Electronic apparatus, display controlling method for electronic apparatus and graphical user interface

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface is disclosed which achieves an easy search for a desired item. When an operation inputting section accepts a selective operation input for selection of one of plural processing functions, plural representation images individually representing plural processing object items of the processing function are displayed in an array along one direction of a display screen such that one of the representation images can be selected as a noticed representation image by an inputting operation through the operation inputting section. A decision section decides whether or not plural processing object items of the selected processing function are divided in a plurality of groups. If the processing object items are divided in groups, then the group name of the group to which the processing object item of the noticed representation image belongs is displayed in the proximity of the noticed representation image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a broadcastreception apparatus which can receive various types of broadcasts suchas, for example, terrestrial analog broadcasts, terrestrial digitalbroadcasts, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) broadcasts and CS (CommunicationSatellite) broadcasts and a recording and/or reproduction apparatus anda display controlling method for an electronic apparatus of the typementioned.

Media used to provide image and music contents have been diversified,and also contents provided have been diversified and increased inquantity. For example, if only broadcasting media are taken, terrestrialanalog broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS broadcasting,CS broadcasting media and so forth are available. Further, in thedigital broadcasting media, the number of available program channels isas great as, for example, 150 channels. Furthermore, not only televisionprograms but also radio programs and data broadcasting programs areprovided by some channels.

Conventionally, also a multimedia reproduction apparatus which canreproduce contents of such various media as described above has beenproposed and is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.Hei 11-73418 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) (whichcorresponds to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,990,884 and 6,370,550 and EuropeanPatent Application No. 875,837 A2).

Also a recording and/or reproduction apparatus has been proposed whereina hard disk apparatus having a large storage capacity is used to recordand reproduce a large amount of broadcasting program contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, where channel selection in such a reception apparatus formulti-channel broadcasting programs as described above or selection of areproduction content from among recorded contents in a recording and/orreproduction apparatus which includes a storage apparatus of a largestorage capacity is performed merely such that a table of broadcastingchannels or a table of contents is displayed in the form of a list on adisplay screen and a channel or a reproduction content is selected fromwithin the list display, it is very cumbersome to find out a desiredbroadcasting channel or content.

Thus, in electronic apparatus of the type described such as recordingand/or reproduction apparatus and reception apparatus, a graphical userinterface is demanded by which a user can rapidly search out abroadcasting program content of a broadcasting channel which the userwants to enjoy or a recorded content which the user wants to reproduce.

It is desirable to provide an electronic apparatus which makes itpossible to search out a processing object item readily.

In order to desire described above, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including aprocessing function execution section for executing a plurality ofprocessing functions, a display data storage section for storing aplurality of display data of representation images individuallyrepresenting a plurality of processing object items of the processingfunctions individually with regard to the plural processing functions,an operation inputting section for accepting an operation input of auser and outputting a corresponding operation output signal, arepresentation image display order data storage section for storing, forthe individual ones of the plural processing functions, representationimage display order data including data relating to an array order whenthe plural representation images are to be displayed on a display screenand including, where the plural processing object items of theprocessing functions are divided into a plurality of groups,coordination data between names of the groups and data relating to thearray order in the individual groups, and a display control section fordisplaying, when the operation inputting section accepts a selectionoperation input for selecting one of the plural processing functions,the plural representation images using the display data stored in thedisplay data storage section and the representation image display orderdata stored in the representation image display order data storagesection such that the plural representation images are arrayed along onedirection of the display screen and one of the plural representationimages can be selected as a noticed representation image in response toan operation input through the operation inputting section, the displaycontrol section including a decision section for deciding, when theoperation inputting section accepts a selection operation input forselecting one of the plural processing functions, whether or not theplural processing object items of the selected processing function isdivided in a plurality of groups, and a group name displaying sectionfor displaying, when the decision section decides that the pluralprocessing object items are divided in a plurality of groups, the groupnames of the groups to which the processing object item of the noticedrepresentation image belongs in the proximity of the noticedrepresentation image based on the storage contents of the representationimage display order data storage section.

In the electronic apparatus, those of a plurality processing functionswhose processing object item number is great can be divided into groupsin advance. Then, a plurality of representation images individuallyrepresenting a plural number of processing object items regarding one ofthe plurality of processing functions which is selected by a user aredisplayed in a state wherein they are arrayed in one direction on thedisplay screen, and one of the plural displayed representation imageswhich is in a selected condition is determined as a noticedrepresentation image and is displayed emphatically.

Then, it is decided whether or not a plurality of processing objectitems relating to a processing function selected by the user are dividedin a plurality of groups. If it is decided that the plural processingobject items are divided in a plurality of groups, then the group nameof the group to which the processing object item of the noticedrepresentation image belongs is displayed in the proximity of thenoticed representation image based on the stored contents of therepresentation image display order data storage section.

Thus, in the electronic apparatus, where the number of processing objectitems regarding a processing function is great, the processing objectitems are divided into groups, and it is displayed as a group name onthe screen to which one of the groups the noticed representation imagebelongs so that this may be recognized by the user. Consequently, asearch of the processing object items can be performed easily byreferring to the group name.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic apparatus including a display data storagesection for storing a plurality of display data of representation imageswhich individually represent a plurality of processing object items, anoperation inputting section for accepting an operation input of a userand outputting a corresponding operation output signal, a presenting andaccepting section for presenting an operation screen for dividing theplural processing object items into groups to the user and acceptinggrouping information of the plural processing object items in responseto an operation input of the user through the operation screen and theoperation inputting section, a representation image display order datastorage section for performing grouping of the plural processing objectitems based on the grouping information and storing representation imagedisplay order data relating to an array order when the pluralrepresentation images are to be displayed on a display screen andincluding coordination data between the group names of the groups andthe data relating to the array order in the groups, and a displaycontrol section for displaying the plural representation images usingthe display data stored in the display data storage section and therepresentation image display order data stored in the representationimage display order data storage section such that the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed along one direction of the displayscreen and one of the plural representation images can be selected as anoticed representation image in response to an operation input throughthe operation inputting section and displaying the group names of thegroups to which the processing object item of the noticed representationimage belongs in the proximity of the noticed representation image.

In the electronic apparatus, an operation screen for grouping processingobject items is provided to the user, and consequently, the user canperform grouping of the processing object items through the operationscreen.

Further, also in the electronic apparatus, it is displayed similarly asa group name on the screen to which one of groups a noticedrepresentation image belongs so that this may be recognized by the user.Consequently, a search of the processing object items can be performedeasily by referring to the group name set by the user itself anddisplayed corresponding to the noticed representation image.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided electronic apparatus comprising a processing function executionsection for executing a plurality of processing functions, a displaydata storage section for storing a plurality of display data ofrepresentation images individually representing a plurality ofprocessing object items of the processing functions individually withregard to the plural processing functions, an operation inputtingsection for accepting an operation input of a user and outputting acorresponding operation output signal, a representation image displayorder data storage section for storing, for the individual ones of theplural processing functions, representation image display order dataincluding data relating to an array order when the plural representationimages are to be displayed on a display screen and including, where theplural processing object items of the processing functions are dividedinto a plurality of groups, coordination data between names of thegroups and data relating to the array order in the individual groups,and a display control section for displaying, when the operationinputting section accepts a selection operation input for selecting oneof the plural processing functions, the plural representation imagesusing the display data stored in the display data storage section andthe representation image display order data stored in the representationimage display order data storage section such that the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed along one direction of the displayscreen and one of the plural representation images can be selected as anoticed representation image in response to an operation input throughthe operation inputting section, the display control section including adecision section for deciding, when the operation inputting sectionaccepts a selection operation input for selecting one of the pluralprocessing functions, whether or not the plural processing object itemsof the selected processing function is divided in a plurality of groups,and a bar displaying section for additionally displaying, when thedecision section decides that the plural processing object items aredivided in a plurality of groups, a bar display which is divided inaccordance with the plural groups and includes, at each of thedivisional portions thereof, a mark including a group name display andindicating at which position the noticed representation image ispositioned in an array of the plural representation images including thenoticed representation image on the display screen.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided an electronic apparatus including a display data storagesection for storing a plurality of display data of representation imageswhich individually represent a plurality of processing object items, anoperation inputting section for accepting an operation input of a userand outputting a corresponding operation output signal, a presenting andaccepting section for presenting an operation screen for dividing theplural processing object items into groups to the user and acceptinggrouping information of the plural processing object items in responseto an operation input of the user through the operation screen and theoperation inputting section, a representation image display order datastorage section for performing grouping of the plural processing objectitems based on the grouping information and storing representation imagedisplay order data relating to an array order when the pluralrepresentation images are to be displayed on a display screen andincluding coordination data between the group names of the groups andthe data relating to the array order in the groups, and a displaycontrol section for displaying the plural representation images usingthe display data stored in the display data storage section and therepresentation image display order data stored in the representationimage display order data storage section such that the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed along one direction of the displayscreen and one of the plural representation images can be selected as anoticed representation image in response to an operation input throughthe operation inputting section and additionally displaying a bardisplay which is divided in accordance with the plural groups andincludes, at each of the divisional portions thereof, a mark including agroup name display and indicating at which position the noticedrepresentation image is positioned in an array of the pluralrepresentation images including the noticed representation image on thedisplay screen.

In the electronic apparatus according to the further embodiment and thestill further embodiment of the present invention, representation imagesare divided into a plurality of groups based on attributes relating toselection object items such as, for example, the substance of processingfunction items or the substance of processing object contents, and thedisplay order of a plurality of representation images on the displayscreen are decided for each group. Then, a bar display which isdisplayed on the screen during scrolling is divided in accordance withthe groups and includes a group name display indicating a groupcorresponding to the divisional portion and a mark display indicating atwhich position the noticed representation image is positioned in the bardisplay.

Accordingly, the user can recognize in which group the markcorresponding to the noticed representation image is positioned in thebar display. Consequently, the user can easily recognize to which groupthe noticed representation image belongs.

With all of the electronic apparatus above, even where the number ofprocessing object items such as broadcasting channels to be selected orrecorded contents to be selected is great, since the plural processingobject items are divided in groups and the group name of the group towhich a noticed object item of a noticed representation image isdisplayed corresponding to the noticed representation image, aprocessing object item can be searched readily by referring to thedisplayed group name.

Particularly where a bar display including a mark which indicates atwhich one of plural representation images the noticed representationimage is positioned is displayed on the screen, the position of thenoticed representation image from among the plural representation imagescan be confirmed at a glance, which facilitates a search for arepresentation image.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a broadcast reception apparatus as an electronic apparatus to whichthe present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a relationship betweencategories as a first item and a second item of a lower hierarchy in thebroadcast reception apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing examples of a graphicaluser interface screen of the broadcast reception apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 to 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating array orders of thesecond items in the broadcast reception apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9 to 12 are schematic views showing different examples of thegraphical user interface screen in the broadcast reception apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are flow charts illustrating a group setting processingaction of the broadcast reception apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 15A to 15E are diagrammatic views illustrating the group settingprocessing action illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a different example of the graphicaluser interface screen in the broadcast reception apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 17 to 21 are schematic views showing different examples of thegraphical user interface upon scrolling in the broadcast receptionapparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 22 to 26 are flow charts illustrating scrolling processing actionon the graphical user interface in the broadcast reception apparatus ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, broadcast reception apparatus each as an electronicapparatus to which the present invention is applied are described. Thebroadcast reception apparatus are configured so as to receivebroadcasting signals from a plurality of different types of broadcastingmedia and cumulatively record received data of a broadcasting programcontent into a storage section of a large storage capacity. Further, thebroadcast reception apparatus of the embodiments of the presentinvention described below use an icon as a representation image.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an example of a hardware configuration of a broadcastreception apparatus as an electronic apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the broadcasting reception apparatus is configuredsuch that various broadcast reception sections and various processingsections such as an image output display section, a sound outputtingsection and an operation inputting section are connected to a system bus2 which is in turn connected to a control section 1 formed from amicrocomputer.

In particular, the broadcasting reception apparatus includes aterrestrial analog broadcast reception section 11, a terrestrial digitalbroadcast reception section 12, a BS broadcast reception section 13 anda CS broadcast reception section 14 as the broadcast reception sections.The terrestrial analog broadcast reception section 11, terrestrialdigital broadcast reception section 12, BS broadcast reception section13 and CS broadcast reception section 14 are connected to the system bus2 through interfaces 15, 16, 17 and 18 provided therefor, respectively.

The terrestrial analog broadcast reception section 11 selectivelyreceives existing terrestrial analog television broadcasting signals andoutputs an image signal (video signal) and a sound signal (audio signal)to the system bus 2 through the interface 15.

The terrestrial digital broadcast reception section 12 is ready fordigital television broadcasting, digital audio broadcasting and databroadcasting and selectively receives and decodes a broadcasting programin response to a selection operation of a user. Then, the terrestrialdigital broadcast reception section 12 outputs an image signal (videosignal), a sound signal (audio signal) and data such as EPG (ElectronicProgramming Guide) data to the system bus 2 through the interface 16.

The BS broadcast reception section 13 is ready for BS televisionbroadcasting, BS audio broadcasting and data broadcasting andselectively receives and decodes a broadcasting program in response to aselection operation of a user. Then, the BS broadcast reception section13 outputs an image signal (video signal), a sound signal (audio signal)and data such as EPG data to the system bus 2 through the interface 17.

The CS broadcast reception section 14 is ready for CS televisionbroadcasting, CS audio broadcasting and data broadcasting andselectively receives and decodes a broadcasting program in response to aselection operation of a user. Then, the CS broadcast reception section14 outputs an image signal (video signal), a sound signal (audio signal)and data such as EPG data to the system bus 2 through the interface 18.

Further, in the broadcasting reception apparatus shown in FIG. 1, amonitor display unit 19 formed from a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) panel or the like is connected as an imageoutputting display section to the system bus 2 through a displayinterface 20. Further, in the broadcasting reception apparatus, aspeaker 22 is connected as a sound outputting section to the system bus2 through a sound outputting interface 21.

Further, in the broadcasting reception apparatus, a remote controllertransmitter 23 is provided as an operation inputting section, and aremote controller reception section 24 for receiving a remote controlsignal from the remote controller transmitter 23 is connected to thesystem bus 2. The remote controller transmitter 23 in the broadcastingreception apparatus includes at least leftward and rightward directionindicating operation buttons and upward and downward directionindicating operation buttons, a “home” button, a “determination” buttonand a “return” button. In response to an operation of any of suchbuttons by the user through the remote controller transmitter 23, aselection instruction or the like is performed on a graphical userinterface screen.

It is to be noted that the leftward and rightward direction indicatingoperation buttons and upward and downward direction indicating operationbuttons can be formed from, for example, a cross-shaped upward,downward, leftward and rightward indicating button, a joystick or someother element.

Further, a memory card drive 25, a clock section 26, an externalinput/output interface 27, a communication interface 28 and a displayimage producing and outputting section 30, a display data storagesection 29 and an EPG retaining section 31 are connected to the systembus 2. Further, a recording encoding-reproduction decoding section 32, acontent data storage section 33 and a content management section 34 areconnected to the system bus 2.

The control section 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), aprogram ROM (Read Only Memory), a working area RAM (Random AccessMemory) and so forth and executes various processes using the workingarea RAM in accordance with a program written in the program ROM.

Each of the broadcast reception sections 11 to 14 selects, from amongobject broadcasting signals received by an antenna not shown, abroadcasting program in response to a selection operation of a userinputted through the remote controller transmitter 23 and signals imagedata and sound data of the selected broadcasting program or datareceived from a data broadcast to the system bus 2.

While the broadcasting reception apparatus of the present embodimentprovides a broadcasting program to the user from one of the broadcastreception sections 11 to 14, which one of the broadcast receptionsections 11 to 14 is to be selected depends upon a selective operationinput from the remote controller transmitter 23 through a graphical userinterface hereinafter described.

The memory card drive 25 is provided to read data from a memory card 40inserted therein or write data into the memory card 40. The apparatusshown in FIG. 1 can read out and write data from and into various typesof memory cards.

The clock section 26 provides information of the time at present andcalendar information. The clock section 26 is used also for reservationsetting of a broadcasting program and measurement of times of varioustimers corresponding to such reservation setting.

The external input/output interface 27 includes various externalinput/output terminals such as video input/output terminals, audioinput/audio terminals and USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminals andtransfers signals between the input/output terminals and the system bus2.

The communication interface 28 is connected to a communication line andis used to transmit, where a data broadcast program is a bidirectionalbroadcast, a response signal to a predetermined destination or acquiredata broadcast contents from a server apparatus through a network. It isto be noted that the communication interface 28 may be used additionallyto fetch data such as data of a web content through the Internet orsignal predetermined information through the Internet.

The display data storage section 29 stores data of icons which form thegraphical user interface hereinafter described, channel display data,and other display data such as character data. Further, the display datastorage section 29 produces and stores icons or thumbnail images asrepresentation images of broadcasting program contents stored in thecontent data storage section 33.

The display image producing and outputting section 30 produces an imageto be displayed on the monitor display unit 19 under the control of thecontrol section 1 and forms a display control section together with thecontrol section 1.

The display image producing and outputting section 30 stores image dataand music data from the broadcast reception sections 11 to 14 into anoutput buffer built therein. Further, the display image producing andoutputting section 30 acquires data for displaying characters andsymbols for the graphic user interface from the display data storagesection 29 and stores the data as on-screen display data into anon-screen buffer built therein. The on-screen display data are used tobe displayed in an overlapping relationship with a reproduced imagedisplayed on the screen of the monitor display unit 19. At this time,the data and the display image are displayed such that the display imagecan be observed from below, for example, through the overlapping imagesuch as the graphical user interface image.

The display image producing and outputting section 30 supplies compositedata of data stored in the output buffer and on-screen display datastored in the on-screen buffer to the monitor display unit 19 throughthe display interface 20.

The EPG retaining section 31 retains data of an electronic program guide(EPG data) in a memory built therein. The EPG data used here areobtained, with regard to a terrestrial analog broadcast, from atelevision broadcast signal wherein the EPG data are superposed within avertical blanking period, and, with regard to a digital broadcast, froma data broadcast sent in the digital broadcast. The EPG data includedata of the name of a broadcasting station, the name of a broadcastingprogram, the starting time of the program, the ending time of theprogram, performers, the genre of the program and so forth of each ofbroadcasting programs.

The EPG retaining section 31 retains EPG data received from thebroadcast reception sections 11 to 14 into a memory thereof. The EPGdata retained in the EPG retaining section 31 are updated so as to bethe latest data.

It is to be noted that the EPG data to be used may not be acquired froma broadcasting signal on which the EPG data are superposed but mayotherwise be acquired, for example, from an EPG data providing serverconnected to the Internet by accessing the EPG data providing serverusing the communication interface 28.

The recording encoding-reproduction decoding section 32 has a functionof performing, when data of a broadcasting program content received byany of the broadcast reception sections 11 to 14 and inputted to thesystem bus 2 are stored into the content data storage section 33, arecording encoding process the data into data of a format used forstorage into the content data storage section 33. The recordingencoding-reproduction decoding section 32 has another function ofperforming a reproduction decoding process corresponding to therecording encoding process for data read out from the content datastorage section 33 to reproduce the data of the broadcasting programcontent.

The content data storage section 33 in the present example is formedfrom a hard disk apparatus of a large storage capacity and used to storeimage data and/or sound data of broadcasting program contents and otherdata.

The content management section 34 stores and manages management data forcontents stored in the content data storage section 33. The contentmanagement section 34 can use part of the recording area of a hard diskas a storage section for management data.

Here, as the management data, information of the recording year, month,day and time (year, month, day and time of storage) of broadcastingprogram contents recorded in the content data storage section 33 andrelating information extracted from EPG data such as, for example,information of a genre, performers or the like are stored and managed inan associated relationship with the respective broadcasting programcontents.

Further, the content management section 34 stores and manages also groupmanagement information of content data as management data in addition toreproduction history information such as the number of times ofreproduction of each broadcasting program content stored in the contentdata storage section 33. The group management information includes alsoinformation of an array order of icons or thumbnail images asrepresentation images of the broadcasting program contents on thedisplay screen. Also information of the array order of channel items ofbroadcasting media in this example is included in the group managementinformation.

Graphical User Interface

In the broadcasting reception apparatus of the present embodiment,selection of a broadcasting medium, selection of a broadcasting programand selection of any other function can be performed simply and readilyby a user using a graphical user interface.

The graphical user interface of the broadcasting reception apparatus ofthe present embodiment includes a plurality of icons which can beselectively designated by a user through an operation of a predeterminedbutton key of the remote controller transmitter 23 and explanationinformation of the icons.

The icons to be displayed on the screen of the monitor display unit 19include category icons representing broadcasting media, settingfunctions, categories of processing functions of an external output,content storage media and so forth and processing objects, and itemicons representing processing function items belonging to the categories(which therefore form a lower hierarchy) and items of processing objectcontents. It is to be noted that, although a thumbnail image can be usedas a representation image, for the simplified description, it is assumedthat, in the following description, an item icon includes arepresentation image formed from a thumbnail image.

In the present embodiment, seven category titles of “setting”, “HDD”,“video”, “terrestrial broadcast”, “BS broadcast”, “CS broadcast” and“external input” are set in advance as the categories to be representedby the category icons. Data of the seven category icons corresponding tothe seven category titles are stored in the display data storage section29. Here, the “HDD” signifies a hard disk apparatus as a content storagemedium in the present example.

The number of item icons representing processing function items anditems of processing object contents in a lower hierarchy of eachcategory differs among different categories.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a plurality of categories (category titles)and items individually belonging to the categories in the broadcastingreception apparatus of the present embodiment. In particular, in FIG. 2,a plurality of categories indicated by halftone dots are shown arrayedin a horizontally row, and a plurality of items belonging to eachcategory are shown arrayed in an upward and downward column from thecategory. In FIG. 2, each item belonging to a category indicates that,where “=>” is described in the description of the explanation of theitem, it has items of a lower hierarchy.

Meanwhile, each item indicated by rightwardly upwardly inclined slantinglines is an item of utility (called utility item). On the other hand,each item indicated by rightwardly downwardly inclined slanting lines isan item whose function completes (called function completion item) andmay be a content selection item of a broadcasting channel or the like oran input changeover item. Further, each item to which none of halftonedots or slanting lines are applied signifies a logic folder.

As seen in FIG. 2, for example, the category of “setting” includes onlyitems of logic folders and particularly includes a plurality of itemssuch as “setting of television”, “setting of external input” and“setting of HDD”.

For the category of “HDD”, an item of “sample” is provided as a utilityitem above the category title, and stored broadcasting program contentitems extracted from the outputs of the broadcast reception sections 11to 14 of the broadcasting media and stored are provided as functioncompletion items.

The stored broadcasting program content items are divided into blocksdepending upon the broadcasting object such as, for example, atelevision broadcast, a radio broadcast or a data broadcast as anattribute regarding the broadcasting program content. In particular, inthe example of FIG. 2, the stored broadcasting program content items aredivided into three blocks of a content block 1, a content block 2 and acontent block 3. Each of the content blocks is formed from one of agroup of broadcasting program contents of television broadcasts, a groupof broadcasting program contents of radio broadcasts and a group ofbroadcasting program contents of data broadcasts.

Further, in the present embodiment, in each of the contents blocks forthe television broadcast, radio broadcast and data broadcast, aplurality of stored broadcasting program content items are grouped inaccordance with a grouping criterion set by the user as hereinafterdescribed.

Further, the category of “video” includes items, as items of logicfolders, of recording reservation, recording reservation confirmationand so forth and further includes, as a utility item, an item of “cardtype memory”.

Further, each of the categories of broadcasting media includes utilityitems indicated above the category title and broadcasting channel itemsas function completion items indicated below the category title.

The items of broadcasting channels which are function completion itemsbelonging to the categories of broadcasting media are grouped for eachbroadcasting object such as a television, a radio and data. Inparticular, selection object items belonging to the category of eachbroadcasting medium are grouped based on the broadcasting object as anattribute relating to the selection object item. This grouping in thepresent example is not set by the user but is set in advance.

In particular, in the example of FIG. 2, the selection object items ofthe category of the terrestrial broadcasting media are divided into agroup of terrestrial analog broadcasting channels (“terrestrial A1 ch”is one of the channels), another group of television channels ofterrestrial digital broadcasts (“terrestrial D ch (TV)” is one of thechannels), and a further group of data broadcasts of the terrestrialdigital broadcasts (“terrestrial D ch (data)” is one of the channels).

The selection object items of the category of the BS broadcasting mediaare divided into a group of television channels of the BS broadcasts(“BS ch (TV)” is one of the channels), another group of radio channelsof the BS broadcasts (“BS ch (radio)” is one of the channels), and afurther group of data broadcasts of the BS broadcasts (“BS ch (data) isone of the channels).

Further, the category of the CS broadcasting media includes twobroadcasting media of CS1 and CS2, and the selection object itemsthereof are divided into a group of television channels of the CS1broadcast (“CS1 ch (TV)” is one of the channels), another group oftelevision channels of the CS2 broadcasts (“CS2 ch (TV)” is one of thechannels), a further group of radio channels of the CS1 broadcast (“CS1ch (radio)” is one of the channels), a still further group of radiochannels of the CS2 broadcasts (“CS2 ch (data)” is one of the channels),a yet further group of data broadcasts of the CS1 broadcast (“CS1 ch(data)” is one of the channels), and a yet further group of databroadcasts of the CS2 broadcast (“CS2 ch (data)” is one of the channels.

Further, as regards an EPG as a utility item in the category of each ofthe broadcasting media, an EPG corresponding to each group is prepared.For example, “terrestrial A TV EPG” is an EPG for a terrestrial analogtelevision broadcast; “terrestrial D TV EPG” is an EPG for a terrestrialdigital television broadcast; and “terrestrial D data EPG” is an EPG fora data broadcast of a terrestrial digital broadcast.

The “external input” category includes, as function completion items,such input changeover items as “video 1”, “video 2” and “component 1”.

In the present embodiment, a graphical user interface is providedwherein a structure which includes a plurality of processing functionitems and such items as a processing object contents substance itemimmediately below each of the plural categories shown in FIG. 2 isreflected on the display of the screen of the monitor display unit 19.

In particular, each of the categories of FIG. 2 is displayed, on thescreen of the monitor display unit 19, in the form of a correspondingicon (hereinafter referred to as category icon), and each of the itemsshown in FIG. 2 is displayed, on the screen of the monitor display unit19, in the form of a corresponding icon (hereinafter referred to as itemicon). Thus, in a conception, FIG. 2 illustrates a relationship betweenthe category icons and the item icons immediately below the categoryicons.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an initial menu screen of a graphical userinterface screen displayed on the screen 19D of the monitor display unit19 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the graphicaluser interface screen is displayed on or erased from the screen 19Devery time the “home” button provided on the remote controllertransmitter 23 which forms the operation inputting section is operated.

On the initial menu screen of the present example, a two-dimensionalarray is displayed wherein a category icon array 100 in which aplurality of category icons are arrayed in a horizontal row and an itemicon array 200 in which a plurality of item icons are arrayed in avertical column intersect with each other at a substantially centralportion of the screen.

The seven different category icons described hereinabove are arrayed inthe category icon array 100. In particular, referring to FIG. 3, an icon41 formed from a pattern of a tool box is the category icon of“setting”; an icon 42 including characters of “HDD” is the category iconof “HDD” as a content storage medium; an icon 43 formed from a patternof a film is the category icon of “video”; an icon 44 including apattern of a steel tower is the category icon of “terrestrial digitalbroadcasting”; an icon 45 including the characters of “BS” is thecategory icon of “BS digital broadcasting”; an icon 46 including thecharacters of “CS” is the category icon of “CS digital broadcasting”;and an icon 47 including a horizontally directed arrow mark is thecategory ion of “external input”.

As seen from FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the category icon array100 is displayed horizontally a little on the higher side than thecenter in the vertical direction of the screen 19D of the monitordisplay unit 19. Further, one of the seven category icons 41 to 47 isnormally selected, and the selected category icon is emphasized bydisplaying the same a little greater than the other category icons so asto inform the user of which one of the category icons is currentlyselected. In the example of FIG. 3, the category icon 43 of “video” isthe selected category icon. Below the selected category icon, the titlename of the category represented by the category icon is displayed asseen in FIG. 3.

In this instance, in the present embodiment, the graphical userinterface display screen displays such that, as seen in FIG. 3, theseven different category icons are normally displayed on the screenwhile the item icon array 200 is displayed with regard only to thecategory icon being selected from among the seven category icons.

Accordingly, the initial menu of the graphical user interface in thepresent embodiment is formed from an icon array wherein the categoryicon array 100 and the item icon array 200 intersect in a cross shapewith each other.

The item icon array 200 includes a plurality of item icons representinga plurality of items belonging to the category corresponding to theselected category icon. In the example of FIG. 3, since the “video”category icon 43 is selected, item icons 51, 52 and 53 belonging to the“video” category icon 43 are displayed in a vertical column as the itemicon array 200.

It is to be noted that, while, in FIG. 3, no item icon is shown abovethe item icon array 200, this is because the number of items whichbelong to the category of “video” is small, but where the number ofitems is great, item icons are arrayed also above the category iconarray 100 in the vertical direction. Further, as hereinafter described,also when the item icon to be selected changes, item icons appear alsoabove the category icon array 100.

Further, where the number of items in a lower hierarchy of a categoryicon is great like the category icons 44 to 46 of the broadcasting mediahereinafter described and the category icon of the external input, it isdifficult, from the size of the display screen of the monitor displayunit 19, to display all of items of the lower hierarchy of a selectedcategory at a time on the screen 19D. Therefore, those item icons whichare displayed as the item icon array 200 on the screen 19D are only partof the items of the selected category.

The graphical user interface screen in the present embodiment is anon-screen display screen and is displayed in an overlapping andtranslucent relationship on the front face of an image of an imagecontent displayed on the screen 19D. In particular, the graphical userinterface screen is displayed in such a display manner that, when abroadcasting program is being viewed on the broadcasting receptionapparatus or when an image picked up by a camera is being reproduced,the image can be observed translucently through the graphical userinterface screen.

It is to be noted that an entire region of the category icon array 100and the item icon array 200 surrounded by dotted lines in FIG. 3 may becolored so as to facilitate distinction in appearance from thebackground region of the screen 19D or the brightness of the contentimage may be adjusted so as to make it easy to watch the graphical userinterface. Naturally, only the category icons or item icons may bedisplayed without taking such measures as coloring or adjustment of thebrightness.

Further, in the present example, the category icon array 100 in theinitial menu screen of the graphical user interface screen does not movein the vertical direction of the screen 19D but is displayed fixedly ata position, for example, a little higher than from the center of thescreen 19D in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 3. Further, in thepresent embodiment, the region in which a selected category icon isdisplayed is an intersecting region 100C at which the category iconarray 100 and the item icon array 200 intersect with each other, andalso the intersecting region 100C is fixed on the screen 19D. Asdescribed hereinabove, below the category icon positioned in theintersecting region 100C, the category title name of the category iconis displayed.

If the user operates the leftward or rightward direction indicatingoperation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 to change theselected category icon to another category icon, then the pluralcategory icons in the category icon array 100 move in the entire arraythereof in the leftward or rightward direction in response to theleftward or rightward instruction of the user to change the selectedcategory icon displayed in the intersecting region 100C.

The control section 1 recognizes the category icon displayed in theintersecting region 100C thereby to recognize the category selected bythe user.

Also the item icon array 200 does not move in the horizontal directionsimilarly, but is displayed fixedly at a position, for example, a littleleftwardly of the center in the horizontal direction as seen in FIG. 3.However, the plural item icons in the item icon array 200 can be movedin the upward or downward direction in response to an instruction of theupward or downward direction of the user issued through the upward ordownward direction indicating operation button of the remote controllertransmitter 23 serving as the operation inputting section.

As described above, since the display position in the vertical directionof the category icon array 100 in which the plural category icons 41 to47 are arrayed in a row in the horizontal direction is fixed and thedisplay position in the horizontal direction of the item icon array 200in which a plurality of item icons are arrayed in a column in thevertical direction is fixed, the intersecting region 100C between thecategory icon array 100 and the item icon array 200 is fixed at aposition obliquely leftwardly upwards with respect to the center of thedisplay screen 19D.

Further, in the present embodiment, the region 200C immediately belowthe intersecting region 100C is determined as a region of an item iconselected by the user from among a plurality of item icons in the itemicon array 200. In other words, in the present embodiment, the controlsection 1 recognizes the item icon displayed in the item icon array 200immediately below the intersecting region 100C as a selected item icon(the selected item icon is hereinafter referred to as noticed item icon)thereby to recognize the selected item.

It is to be noted that, since the items are laid out and arrayed in sucha manner as described above on the graphical user interface, in thepresent embodiment, the noticed region 200C is positioned substantiallyat the center of the screen 19D. In order to make it possible todistinguish the noticed item icon displayed in the noticed region 200Cfrom the other item icons, the noticed item icon in the presentembodiment is surrounded by a quadrangular framework 200MK colored in aconspicuous color such as, for example, yellow so that it is displayedemphatically.

It is to be noted that the method of emphatic display is not limited tothe method wherein the noticed item icon is surrounded by thequadrangular framework 200MK but a different method may be used. Forexample, similarly as in the case of the category icons, the noticeditem icon may be displayed in a color different from the other itemicons or displayed in a greater size than that of the other item iconsor else may be displayed flickering.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the category icondisplayed in the intersecting region 100C at a fixed position isdetermined as a selected category icon, and the item icon displayed inthe noticed region 200C immediately below the intersecting region 100Cis determined as a noticed item icon.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a category selection operation bya user is an operation of moving the category icon array 100 in ahorizontal direction so that a category icon corresponding to a desiredcategory is displayed in the intersecting region 100C, and an operationof a determination button for category selection or the like is notrequired. This is because, when the selected category is positioned inthe intersecting region 100C, the item icon array 200 representing aplurality of items belonging to the selected category appearsautomatically.

Accordingly, the user can select a category only by issuing aninstruction of the leftward or rightward direction, and such aninstruction operation as is performed on a personal computer such as aclicking operation of an icon displayed fixedly on a screen by means ofa mouse is unnecessary. Therefore, even if the user is unfamiliar to apersonal computer, the user can perform a selection operation readily.

It is to be noted that, while the category icons are moved leftwardly orrightwardly, they may all be displayed in the same color and with thesame size, and when the leftward or rightward movement is stopped toposition one of the category icons at the intersecting region 100Cfinally, the color or the size of the category icon may be changed so asto display the category icon emphatically.

Further, as the change of the color, such a factor as the luminosity,saturation or hue of the category icon may be changed or the color maybe changed by flickering display. Since the category icon positioned inthe intersecting region 100C is displayed in a different displayingmanner from that of the other category icons, the user can select acategory readily.

Furthermore, it is possible to hold, when the category icons are movingin the leftward or rightward direction and none of the category icons ispositioned in the intersecting region 100C, the item icon array 200 frombeing displayed and display, when one of the category icons ispositioned finally in the intersecting region 100C, the item icon array200 such that it extends in a projecting manner in the upward anddownward direction from the intersecting region 100C.

The user can recognize those items which belong to the categorydisplayed in the intersecting region 100C only by operating the categoryicons to scroll leftwardly or rightwardly. Further, the user canrecognize the category from a plurality of items displayed in aprojecting extending fashion.

It is to be noted that it is possible to display, if an instruction ofthe leftward or rightward direction is issued through the remotecontroller transmitter 23 while the item icon array 200 is displayed,the extended item icon array 200 in a contracting fashion toward theintersecting region 100C.

On the other hand, the selection operation of an item in a lowerhierarchy of the selected category is an operation of moving the itemicon array 200 in the vertical direction until an item iconcorresponding to a desired item is displayed in the noticed region 200C.

In particular, the item icons in the item icon array 200 are moved inthe vertical direction of the screen 19D in response to an instructionof the upward or downward direction of the user issued through theupward or downward direction instruction operation button of the remotecontroller transmitter 23, whereupon the item icon positioned in thenoticed region 200C immediately below the intersecting region 100Cchanges. Then, if the user operates the “determination” button of theremote controller transmitter 23 while the item icon of a desired itemis positioned in the noticed region 200C, then the control section 1 ofthe broadcasting reception apparatus erases the graphical user interfaceand establishes a state wherein processing of the item is to beexecuted.

However, when items of a lower hierarchy with respect to the item iconpositioned in the noticed region 200C are defined, the items of thelower hierarchy are displayed on the screen 19D in response to anoperation of the “determination button”.

Since, with respect to the item “recording reservation” in the exampleof FIG. 3, items of a lower hierarchy are defined, if the“determination” button of the remote controller transmitter 23 isoperated on the screen of FIG. 3, then the graphical user interfacescreen changes to such a screen as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the example shown, the category icon arraydisappears from the screen 19D only leaving the category icon beingselected, and the display position of the item icon array moves to theleft end of the screen 19D to leave out the space on the right side withrespect to the item icon array. Then, in the left out space, a pluralityof item icons in the lower hierarchy are displayed in an upward anddownward array and explanation information regarding the substance ofthe items corresponding to the item icons is displayed. At this time,explanation information regarding all of the item icons of the lowerhierarchy is displayed as seen in FIG. 4.

Then, the quadrangular framework 200MK which emphatically displays thenoticed item moves to the position of one of the item icons of the lowerhierarchy. Accordingly, the user can selectively determine a desiredlower hierarchy item icon by operating the upward or downward directionindicating button and then operating the “determination” button of theremote controller transmitter 23. It is to be noted that any lowerhierarchy item may include a further lower hierarchy.

In the present embodiment, in order to select an item icon in the itemicon array 200, the user operates the upward or downward directionindicating operation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 tomove a plurality of item icons in the vertical direction of the screen19D to search for the item icon of a desired item.

It is to be noted that the arrays of the item icons of the channel itemsimmediately below the category icons 44 to 46 are such as shown in FIGS.5 to 7, respectively. In particular, while the channels of thebroadcasting media are grouped for each broadcasting object as describedhereinabove, the array order of the group units and the array order ofthe channels in the groups in the present embodiment are determined inthe following manner.

FIG. 5 illustrates the array order with regard to the terrestrialbroadcasting category. Referring to FIG. 5, where the downward directionfrom a location immediately below the terrestrial broadcasting categoryicon 44 is determined as an array direction, the groups are arrayed inthe order of the terrestrial analog broadcasting, terrestrial digital(television) and terrestrial digital (data).

Then, in the group of the terrestrial analog broadcasting, the belongingchannels are arrayed in the order of registered channel numbers in thearray direction. The array order is the registered number order but notthe physical number order nor the displayed number order.

Meanwhile, in the group of the terrestrial digital broadcasting(television), the belonging channels are arrayed in the order of thenumbers determined in the distribution order in the array direction.Also in the terrestrial digital broadcasting (data) group, the channelsare arrayed in the order of the numbers determined in the distributionorder in the array direction.

FIG. 6 illustrates the array order with regard to the BS broadcastingcategory. Referring to FIG. 6, where the downward direction from alocation immediately below the terrestrial broadcasting category icon 44is determined as an array direction, the groups are arrayed in the orderof the BS digital (television), BS digital (radio) and BS digital(data).

Then, in each of the groups of the BS digital (television), BS digital(radio) and BS digital (data), the belonging channels are arrayed in theorder of the numbers determined in the distribution order in the arraydirection.

FIG. 7 illustrates the array order with regard to the CS broadcastingcategory. Referring to FIG. 7, where the downward direction from alocation immediately below the terrestrial broadcasting category icon 44is determined as an array direction, the groups are arrayed in the orderof the CS1 digital (television), CS2 digital (television), CS1 digital(radio), CS2 digital (radio), CS1 digital (data) and CS2 digital (data).

Then, in each of the groups of the CS1 digital (television), CS2 digital(television), CS1 digital (radio), CS2 digital (radio), CS1 digital(data) and CS2 digital (data), the belonging channels are arrayed in theorder of the numbers determined in the distribution order in the arraydirection.

FIG. 8 illustrates an array order in the content storage medium categoryof “HDD”. Referring to FIG. 8, a content block 1, a content block 2 anda content block 3 are arrayed in order in an array direction which is adownward direction from a position immediately below the “HDD” categoryicon.

The content block 1 includes one of television broadcast contents, radiobroadcast contents and data broadcast contents set by selective settingof the user. The content block 2 includes another one of the other twobroadcast contents except the broadcast content set as the content block1 from among the television broadcast contents, radio broadcast contentsand data broadcast contents. Further, the content block 3 includes theremaining broadcast contents other than the broadcast contents set asthe content block 1 and the content block 2.

In each of the content blocks 1, 2 and 3, broadcast program contents aredivided into a plurality of groups in accordance with a groupingcriterion set by the user as hereinafter described. Then, each groupincludes one or a plurality of broadcast program contents, and the arrayorder of a plurality broadcast program contents in each group is theorder of storage into the content data storage section 33 or the reverseorder as hereinafter described.

Incidentally, the items represented by the item icons belonging to thecategory of a broadcasting medium in the present embodiment are functioncompletion items composed of utility items and broadcasting channelitems as shown in FIG. 2.

Here, the utility items shown above the category titles of thebroadcasting media in FIG. 2 are EPG items, and preferably, they can beselected simply on the graphical user interface so that they can bereferred to immediately upon channel selection.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when one of the category icons 44to 46 of the broadcasting media is selected, the channel item icons inthe item icon array 200 are moved upwardly or downwardly one by one, butwhen the noticed item icon is to be selected with regard to a channelitem, the item icons of the utility items above the category icons 44 to46 are not moved in the upward or downward direction while only the itemicons of the function completion items below the category icons 44 to 46are moved in the upward or downward direction. This similarly applies tothe item icon array with regard to the category icon 47.

It is to be noted that, if an instruction to select one of the itemsabove the channel item (uppermost channel item) immediately below any ofthe category icons 44 to 46 in FIGS. 5 to 7 is issued by the user, thenthe selection instruction becomes a selection instruction of a utilityitem, and an item icon of an EPG item is displayed as the noticed itemicon in the noticed region 200C so that it can be selected.

Then, if the selection instruction operation range of the user changesto the range which indicates item icons of channel items from an itemicon in the EPG item range, then the icons of those channel itemspositioned higher in the array direction than the item icon of thechannel item displayed in the noticed region 200C as the noticed itemicon successively disappear from the screen display as the item icons ofthe channel items move downwardly in the array direction.

FIG. 9 shows an initial menu screen of the graphical user interfacescreen where the “terrestrial broadcasting” category icon 44 is theselected category.

As seen in FIG. 9, on the screen shown, each of the broadcasting channelitems is represented by an icon composed of a channel number. In theexample of FIG. 9, the broadcasting channel of the channel number “1” issurrounded by the quadrangular framework 200MK and displayed in thenoticed region 200C, thereby indicating that the channel “1” isselected.

Further, above the category icon, item icons 61 and 62 where the EPGfunction is a utility item are displayed. In the example shown in FIG.9, the item icon 61 represents the EPG function for the terrestrialanalog television broadcasting, and the item icon 62 represents the EPGfunction for the terrestrial digital television broadcasting.

Then, in the present embodiment, if the selected category icon changesin response to an operation of the user, then it is checked whether ornot those item icons which belong to the newly selected category iconare in a grouped state (including a blocked state). If it is decidedthat the item icons are in a grouped state, then the group namedisplaying place 71 is provided as a display item on the left side ofthe noticed item icon, and the block name and the group name to whichthe item represented by the noticed item icon belongs are displayed inthe group name displaying place 71.

As seen in the example of FIG. 9, on the graphical user interface screenon which one of the category icons of the broadcasting media isselected, when the noticed item icon is an item icon of a channel item,the “terrestrial analog television” is displayed in the group namedisplaying place 71 on the left side of the noticed item icon of thenoticed region 200C.

Then, an explanation display which explains the item represented by thenoticed item icon is provided on the right side of the noticed item iconsimilarly as in FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, on the graphical user interfacescreen of FIG. 9 on which one of the category icons of the broadcastingmedia is selected, when the noticed item icon is an item icon of achannel item, in the present example, explanation information for twolines is displayed on the right side of the noticed item icon of thenoticed region 200C.

A place 72 of the higher line of the explanation information in the twolines is set as a program name displaying place, in which a broadcastingprogram name of the channel of the noticed item icon is displayed.Meanwhile, a place 73 and another place 74 of the lower side line areused as a broadcasting station name displaying place and a broadcastingtime displaying place in which a broadcasting station name and thebroadcasting time (starting time and ending time) of the channel of thenoticed item icon are displayed, respectively.

Then, if, in the state of FIG. 9, the user operates the downwarddirection indicating operation button of the upward and downwarddirection indicating operation buttons of the remote controllertransmitter 23 in order to select a channel at a downward portion in thearray direction of the channel numbers, then the display substance ofthe screen changes as seen in FIG. 10. In particular, the noticed itemicon of the noticed region 200C changes to that of the channel “3” ofthe terrestrial analog television broadcasting and the item icon of thechannel “1” disappears from the screen. At this time, the item icons 61and 62 of the EPG items which are utility items are displayed withoutchanging the position thereof on the screen 19D.

Further, if an item icon of a channel item at a lower portion in thechannel array direction is selected, then the screen changes similarly.

On the contrary, if the user operates the upward direction indicatingoperation button of the upward and downward direction indicatingoperation buttons of the remote controller transmitter 23 in order toselect a channel at an upper portion in the array direction of thechannel numbers, then the display substance of the screen changes asseen in FIG. 11. In particular, at this time, the noticed item icon ofthe noticed region 200C changes to an item icon of an EPG function ofthe terrestrial analog television broadcasting, and explanation of thisis displayed in a program name displaying place 72.

Here, if the “determination” button is depressed in this state, then inthe broadcasting reception apparatus, corresponding EPG data is read outfrom the display data storage section 29 to produce EPG display data.Then, the graphical user interface is erased and the produced andselectively determined EPG screen is displayed on the screen 19D of themonitor display unit 19.

FIG. 12 shows an initial menu screen of the graphical user interfacescreen where the “HDD” category icon 42 is a selected category.

In this instance, thumbnail images of broadcasting program contentsstored in the content data storage section 33 are read out from thedisplay data storage section 29 in accordance with information of thearray order of the item icons shown in FIG. 8 of the content managementsection 34 and displayed in the array order as item icons. Inparticular, part of the stored broadcasting program content data, forexample, thumbnail images of the title images, are displayed in an arrayin the vertical direction as an item icon array 200 as seen in FIG. 12.

Then, a noticed thumbnail image as the noticed item icon in the noticedregion 200C is displayed emphatically, in the example of FIG. 12, in agreater size than the other thumbnail images. Similarly as in the caseof FIG. 11, three displaying places 72, 73 and 74 are provided in twolines on the right side of the noticed thumbnail image. In the exampleof FIG. 12, the storage year, month, day and time at which the noticedthumbnail image was stored into the content data storage section 33 isdisplayed in the displaying place 72. In the displaying place 73, thename of the broadcasting station from which the noticed thumbnail imagewas provided is displayed, and in the displaying place 74, the titlename of the broadcasting program content of the noticed thumbnail imageis displayed.

A group name displaying place 71 is provided on the left side of thenoticed thumbnail image of the noticed region 200C similarly asdescribed hereinabove. In the example of FIG. 12, that the program is atelevision broadcasting program (television broadcasting block) and thatthe genre is selected as the grouping criterion and the group ofbroadcasting program contents represented by the noticed thumbnail imageis “sports” are displayed as a group name display.

In the description given with reference to FIG. 11, since item icons ofan object of selection are items of channel selection of broadcastingmedia and selection is performed from among items of channel selectionin the category of broadcasting media, the items are grouped into thetelevision broadcasts, radio broadcasts and data broadcasts in advanceas described above. However, in the case of the storage medium of thecategory “HDD”, since the grouping can be set by the user as seen inFIG. 12, the group name displayed in the group name displaying place 71is that provided in accordance with the grouping criterion set by theuser.

As described hereinabove, the groups of broadcasting program contentsstored in the content data storage section 33 and the array order of theitem icons (thumbnail images) on the graphical user interface are set bythe user and stored in and managed by the content management section 34.

Processing action for the setting of stored content groups is describedwith reference to FIGS. 13 to 15A to 15E.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are flow charts illustrating the processing action. Theprocessing routine for the setting of stored content groups is startedfrom FIG. 13 when the item icon “setting of HDD” is selected in thecategory 41 of “setting”.

First, the control section 1 displays a setting screen for selectiveallocation of the television broadcasts, radio broadcasts and databroadcasts to the content blocks 1, 2 and 3 on the screen 19D of thedisplay unit 19 (step S101). Then, the control section 1 discriminatesthrough the remote controller transmitter 23 whether or not a settinginstruction is accepted (step S102). If it is decided that no acceptanceof a setting input is detected, then it is decided whether or not the“return” button of the remote controller transmitter 23 is operated(step S103). If it is decided that the “return” button is not operated,then the processing returns to step S102. However, if it is decided thatthe “return” button is operated, then the control section 1 restores thegraphical user interface screen which is that before the “setting ofHHD” is selected (step S104), thereby quitting the present processingroutine.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S102 that a setting inputregarding the content blocks 1, 2 and 3 is accepted, then the controlsection 1 stores the substance of the setting input regarding thecontent blocks 1, 2 and 3 into the content management section 34 (stepS105).

Then, in the present example, the control section 1 displays groupingcriterion items regarding stored television broadcast program contentswith regard to the contents blocks set as the television broadcasts, forexample, in such a manner as seen in FIGS. 15A to 15E on the screen 19Dto present the grouping criterion items to the user (step S106).

The user would selectively input an item to be used as the groupingcriterion from within the selection screen of the grouping criterionitems (item icons) or operate the “return” button of the remotecontroller transmitter 23.

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not a selective input ofthe user is accepted with regard to the grouping criterion items (stepS107). If it is decided that no such selective input is accepted, thenthe control section 1 decides whether or not the “return” button of theremote controller transmitter 23 is operated (step S108). If it isdecided that the “return” button is not operated, then the processingreturns to step S107. However, if it is decided that the “return” buttonis operated, then the processing returns to step S101 so that theprocesses at the steps beginning with step S101 are repeated.

If it is decided at step S107 that a selection input of a groupingcriterion item is accepted, then the control section 1 displays aninquiry screen regarding whether the array order of the broadcastingprogram contents in the group is the storage order into the content datastorage section 33 or the reverse order on the screen 19D (step S109).Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not a selective settinginput regarding the array order is accepted (step S110).

If it is decided at step S110 that a selective setting input regardingthe array order is not accepted, then the control section 1 decideswhether or not the “return” button of the remote controller transmitter23 is operated (step S111). If it is decided that the “return” button isnot operated, then the processing returns to step S110, but if it isdecided that the “return” button is operated, then the processingreturns to step S106.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S110 that a selectivesetting input regarding the array order is accepted, then the controlsection 1 sends information of the item selectively set as the groupingcriterion to the content management section 34 and instructs the contentmanagement section 34 to execute a grouping process regarding thetelevision broadcasting program contents (step S112).

An example of the grouping criterion items displayed on the screen 19Dand presented to the user at step S106 is illustrated in FIG. 15A.Referring to FIG. 15A, as the grouping criterion items, for example,that which depends upon the EPG, that which depends upon the storagetiming, that which depends upon the history of enjoyment in the past andso forth are presented to the user.

For example, if the grouping criterion item which depends upon the EPGis selected as the grouping criterion on the screen of FIG. 15A by theuser, then items of the lower hierarchy are displayed on the screen 19D.In particular, items which are used as a criterion in grouping dependingupon EPG data, for example, such grouping criterion items as “genre”,“performers” and so forth, are displayed as the lower hierarchy items onthe screen 19D as seen in FIG. 15B.

If, for example, “genre” is selected as the grouping criterion by theuser on the screen 19D of FIG. 15B, then, for example, such sub items ofthe genre as seen in FIG. 15E are displayed on the screen 19D. The usercan select, from among the sub items of the genre, a plurality of subitems which the user wants to use for grouping.

For example, if “movie”, “sports” and “document” are selected as the subitems by the user, then the content management section 34 refers to thegenre information of the EPG data stored in the content data storagesection 33 to divide the broadcasting program contents stored in thecontent data storage section 33 into groups of those which belong to theselected sub items of “movie”, “sports” and “document” and a differentgroup of those which belong to the “other genres”. In other words, thebroadcasting program contents stored in the content data storage section33 are divided into a plurality of groups including the groups of theitems selected by the user and the group of the other items.

On the other hand, if “performer” is selected as the grouping criterionby the user in FIG. 15B, then though not shown, a table list ofperformers is displayed as sub items of performers on the screen 19D andpresented to the user. The user can select performers which the userwants to group from within the table list of performers. Also in thisinstance, the content management section 34 refers to performerinformation of the EPG data stored in the content data storage section33 to divide the broadcasting program contents stored in the contentdata storage section 33 into groups of those which belong to the namesof a plurality of selected performers and a different group of thosewhich belong to the “other genre”.

Further, if the grouping criterion item which depends upon the storagetiming is selected as the grouping criterion by the user, then itemsrelating to the storing timing such as a unit of one week, a unit of twoweeks, a unit of one month and so forth are displayed as groupingcriterion items of the lower hierarchy on the screen 19D as seen in FIG.15C.

If an item relating to the storage timing is selected by the user, thenthe content management section 34 refers to the information of thestorage timing (information of the year, month, day and time) stored inthe content data storage section 33 to divide the broadcasting programcontents stored in the content data storage section 33 into a pluralityof groups in accordance with the selected storing timings.

Further, if the grouping criterion item which depends upon the historyof enjoyment in the past is selected as the grouping criterion by theuser, then whether or not the broadcasting program content has beenenjoyed even once in the past, that is, presence or absence ofenjoyment, the number of times of enjoyment and so forth are displayedas grouping criterion items of the lower hierarchy on the screen 19D asseen in FIG. 15D.

If the user selects, for example, “presence or absence of enjoyment” asthe grouping criterion item, then the content management section 34divides the broadcasting program contents stored in the content datastorage section 33 into a group of those which have been enjoyed atleast once in the past and another group of those which have not beenenjoyed as yet in the past.

On the other hand, for example, if “number of times of enjoyment” isselected as the grouping criterion item by the user, then the contentmanagement section 34 divides the broadcasting program contents storedin the content data storage section 33 into a plurality of groupsdepending upon the number of times of enjoyment such as a group of thosewhich have not been enjoyed as yet, another group of those which havebeen enjoyed once, a further group of those which have been enjoyedtwice and so forth.

It is to be noted that, in all of the cases described above, the arrayorder of the broadcasting program contents in each group is the order oftimings of storage into the content data storage section 33 or thereverse order based on a selective input of the user responsive to theinquiry at step S109.

In summary, the content management section 34 performs grouping for thecontent block of television from among the contents blocks 1, 2 and 3 inaccordance with the grouping criterion selected by the user in such amanner as described above. Then, the information of the array order isstored, in the present example, into the content data storage section33.

Next to step S112, the processing advances to step S121 of FIG. 14, atwhich, regarding the content block set as the radio broadcast, agrouping criterion item regarding the stored radio broadcasting programcontents is displayed on the screen 19D and presented to the user in asimilar manner as in the case of FIGS. 15A to 15E. However, the subitems of the genre in this instance are, for example, classic, pops,Latin, movie music and so forth and are different from those in the caseof FIGS. 15 a to 15 e.

The control section 1 decides whether or not a selection input from theuser is accepted with regard to the grouping criterion item (step S122).If it is decided that no selection input is accepted, then the controlsection 1 decides whether or not the “return” button of the remotecontroller transmitter 23 is operated (step S123). If it is decided thatthe “return” button is not operated, then the processing returns to stepS121, but if the “return” button is operated, then the processingreturns to step S106 so that the processes at the steps beginning withstep S106 are repeated.

If it is decided at step S122 that a selection input regarding thegrouping criterion item is accepted, then the control section 1 displaysan inquiry screen regarding whether the array order of the broadcastingprogram contents in the group is the storage order into the content datastorage section 33 or the reverse order on the display screen 19D (stepS124). Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not a selectivesetting input regarding the array order is accepted (step S125).

If it is decided at step S125 that a selective setting input regardingthe array order is not accepted, then the control section 1 decideswhether or not the “return” button of the remote controller transmitter23 is operated (step S126). If it is decided that the “return” button isnot operated, then the processing returns to step S125, but if the“return” button is operated, then the processing returns to step S121.

Further, if it is decided at step S125 that a selective setting inputregarding the array order is accepted, then the control section 1 sendsinformation of the item selectively set as the grouping criterion to thecontent management section 34 and issues an instruction to the contentmanagement section 34 to execute a grouping process for the radiobroadcasting program contents (step S127).

Next to step S127, the processing advances to step S128, at which thecontrol section 1 displays the grouping criterion item regarding thestored data broadcasting program contents with regard to the contentblock set for the data broadcasting on the screen 19D to present thegrouping criterion item to the user similarly as in the case of FIGS.15A to 15E. However, for example, the sub items of the genre in thisinstance are amusement, politics and economics, travel and so forth andare different from those in the case of the television shown in FIGS.15A to 15E.

The control section 1 decides whether or not a selection input from theuser is accepted with regard to the grouping criterion items (stepS129). If it is decided that no such selection input is accepted, thenthe control section 1 decides whether or not the “return” button of theremote controller transmitter 23 is operated (step S130). If it isdecided that the “return” button is not operated, then the processingreturns to step S129, but if it is decided that the “return” button isoperated, then the processing returns to step S121 so that the processesat the steps beginning with step S121 are repeated.

If it is decided at step S129 that a selective input of the groupingcriterion items is accepted, then the control section 1 displays aninquiry screen regarding whether the array order of the broadcastingprogram contents in the group is the storage order into the content datastorage section 33 or the reverse order on the display screen 19D (stepS131). Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not a selectivesetting input regarding the array order is accepted (step S132).

If it is decided at step S132 that a selective setting input regardingthe array order is not accepted, then the control section 1 decideswhether or not the “return” button of the remote controller transmitter23 is operated (step S133). If it is decided that the “return” button isnot operated, then the processing advances to step S132, but if it isdecided that the “return button” is operated, then the processingreturns to step S128.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S132 that a selectivesetting input regarding the array order is accepted, then the controlsection 1 sends information of the item selectively set as the groupingcriterion to the content management section 34 and issues an instructionto the content management section 34 to execute a grouping processregarding the data broadcasting program contents (step S134). Then, thepresent processing routine is ended.

Scrolling Process

Further, in the present embodiment, taking it into consideration thatthe number of stored broadcasting program content items of the storagemedium or the number of channel items of the broadcasting media isgreat, a scrolling search can be performed upon selection of an itemicon in the item icon array 200.

Although the operation button for such a scrolling search may beprovided separately on the remote controller transmitter 23, in thepresent embodiment, it is determined that a scrolling starting operationis performed when the upward direction indicating operation button orthe downward direction indicating operation button of the upward anddownward direction indicating operation buttons of the remote controllertransmitter 23 is kept depressed for more than a fixed period of time,and while the upward direction indicating operation button or thedownward direction indicating operation button is kept depressed, thescrolling is continued.

Then, in the present embodiment, while the scrolling continues, thescrolling speed increases gradually. Further, in the present embodiment,the display substance of the graphical user interface screen changes inresponse to the scrolling speed so that the user can perform the searchmore readily. A manner of such change of the screen 19D when a scrollingoperation of the item icons is performed is described with reference toFIGS. 16 to 19.

FIG. 16 illustrates a manner wherein, while the category icon 45 of theBS broadcasting media is selected, the item icon of the channel 98 ofthe television is selected as the noticed item icon. The display of FIG.16 is similar to that of FIG. 9 described hereinabove but is differentin that the broadcasting media change from the terrestrial broadcastingmedia to the BS broadcasting media.

If, in the state of FIG. 16, the user depresses, for example, thedownward direction indicating operation button of the remote controllertransmitter 23 for more than a fixed period of time to perform thescrolling starting operation, then the graphical user interface screenchanges to such a manner as seen in FIG. 17.

In particular, on the original screen of FIG. 16, explanation of theselected channel is displayed on the right side only with regard to thenoticed item icon of the noticed region 200C. However, in FIG. 17,explanation not only with regard to the noticed item icon of the noticedregion 200C but also with regard to a plurality of channels preceding toand following the channel selected as the noticed item icon isdisplayed.

In particular, on the original screen of FIG. 16, although the channelnumbers of a plurality of channels following the channel selectedthrough the noticed item icon of the noticed region 200C are displayedin the item icon array 200, explanation of the program names of thechannels and so forth is not displayed. However, such explanation isdisplayed on the screen of FIG. 17. However, also in this instance, thegroup name displaying place 71 is displayed only for the noticed itemicon as seen in FIG. 17.

Further, on the original screen of FIG. 16, item icons of channel itemspreceding to the selected noticed item icon are not displayed above thecategory icon 45 because item icons of EPG items are displayed above thecategory icon 45 as described above. However, on the graphical userinterface screen shown in FIG. 17 after the scrolling is started, theitem icons of the EPG items disappear, and also item icons of channelspreceding to the channel corresponding to the noticed item icon aredisplayed.

Consequently, the user can easily find out a desired channel item byscroll search.

However, in the present embodiment, although all of the program namedisplaying place 72, broadcasting station name displaying place 73 andbroadcasting time displaying place 74 are displayed with regard to thenoticed item icon as seen in FIG. 16, with regard to the item iconspreceding to and following the noticed item icon, the substance isdisplayed only in some of the program name displaying place 72,broadcasting station name displaying place 73 and broadcasting timedisplaying place 74. In the example of FIG. 16, only a program name isdisplayed in the displaying place 72. In particular, in the presentembodiment, also on the scrolling screen, explanation informationregarding the noticed item icon is displayed emphatically and detailsare displayed. However, explanation information regarding the item iconsother than the noticed item icon to be displayed simultaneously islimited to part of the explanation information regarding the noticeditem icon.

The reason why such a displaying manner of explanation information asjust described is adopted is that, even if a large number of types ofinformation are provided for images moving at a high speed in thescrolling display, the information cannot be recognized readily and, ifit is tried to display a large number of kinds of information, then eachpiece of information can be displayed only finely and cannot berecognized readily.

It is to be noted that, in the present embodiment, the explanationdisplay is performed such that, where it is positioned on the right sideof the noticed item icon, it is displayed densely or displayed in adifferent color from the other displays such as, for example, in brightyellow so that it can be distinguished from the other item iconsdisplayed thinly, for example, in white characters. Further, it iscommon to all of the graphical user interface screens used in thepresent embodiment that a reproduction image of the background can begenerally observed through the graphical user interface screen.

If the depression state of the downward direction indicating operationbutton of the remote controller transmitter 23 is further continued inthis state, then the broadcasting reception apparatus decides that thescrolling is continued and gradually raises the scrolling speed. As thescrolling speed gradually rises, the item icon formed from a channelnumber surrounded by the quadrangular framework 200MK is displayeddensely so as to be emphasized as shown in FIG. 18. However, theexplanation displays are all displayed thinly similarly to the otheritem icons. At this time, only the explanation information of thenoticed item icon may be kept densely or may be displayed more denselythan the other explanation displays so that it can be noticed.

If the scrolling further continues until the scrolling speed exceeds apredetermined value, then a group bar 80 having a predetermined width inthe horizontal direction and extending over the overall extent of thescreen 19D in the vertical direction is displayed on the left side ofthe noticed item icon in the noticed region 200C which is surrounded bythe quadrangular framework 200MK and displayed densely so as to beemphasized as shown in FIG. 19. Further, in the present example, thecategory icon array 100 is erased on the screen of FIG. 19. However,also on the screen of FIG. 19, the category icon array 100 may otherwisebe kept displayed but thinly without being erased.

The group bar 80 is displayed so as to correspond to the array order ofthe channels of the individual broadcasting medium described hereinabovewith reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Thus, the group bar 80 is divided in thevertical direction in accordance with the set group such that theindividual divided portions have lengths corresponding to the number ofchannels included in the groups. Since the example of FIG. 19illustrates the group bar 80 of the BS broadcasting, the group bar 80 isdivided into three regions of divisional regions 81, 82 and 83 inaccordance with the grouping of FIG. 6, and the group name is displayedat the bar portion of each of the divisional regions 81, 82 and 83.Further, the group bar 80 displays a noticed item icon position displaymark 80MK indicative of the group and the position of the channel in thegroup bar 80 represented by the noticed item icon.

The noticed item icon position display mark 80MK is displayed using acolor which looks conspicuously to the user on the graphical userinterface screen, for example, using bright yellow similarly to thequadrangular framework 200MK for emphatically displaying the noticeditem icon.

Consequently, even if the scrolling speed becomes so high that thenoticed item icon displayed on the screen and item icons preceding toand following the noticed item icon as well as the explanation displaysof them cannot be observed well, it can be recognized readily from theposition of the noticed item icon position display mark 80MK of thegroup bar 80 which channel position is being currently scrolled.

In the present embodiment, scrolling is possible not only upon selectionof a channel item when the selected category icon is the category iconof any broadcasting medium but upon selection of an item icon belongingto all of the seven different category icons.

However, in the present embodiment, the selection for the array of itemicons in the item icon array 200 is not of the ring type. In particular,after change of the selection of an item icon comes to the upper end orlower end of the item icon array, this cannot be performed any more inthe same direction, but can be performed only in the reverse direction.Accordingly, also in the scrolling, after it comes to the upper or lowerend of the array of item icons in the item icon array 200, it is stoppedthere. Therefore, where the number of items is small, even if the screenchange to the scroll starting screen of FIG. 17 occurs, the scrollingmay be stopped without changing to the screen of FIG. 18 or 19.

Naturally, however, the scrolling described above can be applied alsowhere the upper end and the lower end of the item icon array are coupledto each other in the change of the selection of an item icon so as toallow ring-lie selection.

Selection of Stored Medium Contents

The description above is directed to a case wherein the item icons of anobject of selection are items for channel selection of broadcastingmedia, and scrolling is performed for the items for channel selection ofthe category of the broadcasting medium. Therefore, the items aregrouped into television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, data broadcastsand so forth as described above. However, as regards storage media ofthe category “HDD”, since the grouping can be set by a user as describedhereinabove, the group name displayed in the group name displaying place71 conforms to that according to the grouping criterion set by the user.

In particular, if the “HDD” category icon is selected and, for example,a broadcasting program content of the group of television broadcastprograms is selected as the noticed item in the noticed region 200C,then a thumbnail image of each of the broadcasting program contents isused as an item icon as shown in FIG. 12. Further, the thumbnail imagein the noticed region 200C is displayed emphatically in a greater sizethan the other thumbnail images.

If the user issues a scrolling starting instruction through the remotecontroller transmitter 23 in the state of the screen of FIG. 12, thenthe graphical user interface screen of the screen 19D displaysexplanation information regarding not only the thumbnail image(hereinafter referred to as noticed thumbnail image) as the noticed itemicon surrounded by the quadrangular framework 200MK in the noticedregion 200C but also the thumbnail images of a plurality of broadcastingprogram contents preceding to and following the noticed thumbnail imagesimilarly as in the case of FIG. 17. It is to be noted that, also inthis instance, the group name displaying place 71 is displayed only forthe noticed item thumbnail image as seen in FIG. 20.

Consequently, the user can easily find out a desired broadcastingprogram content item by the scrolling search.

Also in this instance, although, in the present embodiment, all of theprogram name displaying place 72, broadcasting station name displayingplace 73 and broadcasting time displaying place 74 are displayed for thenoticed thumbnail image in the noticed region 200C, for the thumbnailimages of the other broadcasting program contents as the item iconspreceding to and succeeding the noticed item icon, only explanation isdisplayed in some of the displaying place 72, displaying place 73 anddisplaying place 74, in the example shown, only a program name isdisplayed in the displaying place 72.

The reason why such a displaying manner of explanation information asjust described is adopted is that, as described hereinabove, even if alarge number of types of information are provided for images moving at ahigh speed in the scrolling display, the information cannot berecognized readily and, if it is tried to display a large number ofkinds of information, then each piece of information can be displayedonly finely and cannot be recognized readily.

It is to be noted that, also in the present example, the explanationdisplay is performed such that, where it is positioned on the right sideof the noticed thumbnail image, it is displayed densely or displayed ina different color from the other displays such as, for example, inbright yellow so that it can be distinguished from the other thumbnailimages as item icons displayed thinly, for example, in white characters.Further, it is common to all of the graphical user interface screensused in the present embodiment that a reproduction image of thebackground can be generally observed through the graphical userinterface screen.

If the depression state of the downward direction indicating operationbutton of the remote controller transmitter 23 is further continued inthis state, then the broadcasting reception apparatus decides that thescrolling is continued and gradually raises the scrolling speed. As thescrolling speed gradually rises, the noticed thumbnail image in thenoticed region 200C surrounded by the quadrangular framework 200MK isdisplayed densely so as to be emphasized. However, the explanationdisplays are all displayed thinly similarly to the other thumbnailimages as item icons. At this time, only the explanation information ofthe noticed thumbnail image may be kept densely or may be displayed moredensely than the other explanation displays so that it can be noticed.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the scrolling further continuesuntil the scrolling speed exceeds a predetermined value, then two groupbars 90A and 90B having a predetermined width in the horizontaldirection and extending over the overall extent of the screen 19D in thevertical direction are displayed on the left side of the noticedthumbnail image in the noticed region 200C which is surrounded by thequadrangular framework 200MK and displayed densely so as to beemphasized.

The group bar 90A displays the substances of the groups corresponding tothe content blocks 1, 2 and 3 while the group bar 90B displays thesubstance of the group in the content block including the noticedthumbnail image.

In particular, as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 8, it isset by the user that the content blocks 1, 2 and 3 are coordinatedindividually with the broadcasting program media of “television”,“radio” and “data” and what grouping is provided in each content block.Thus, the group bar 90A has three divisional regions 91A, 92A and 93Adivided in the vertical direction with lengths conforming to the numbersof broadcasting program contents in the content blocks 1, 2 and 3 inaccordance with the setting. Further, in each of the divisional regions91A, 92A and 93A, the name of a broadcasting program medium set by theuser, that is, one of “television”, “radio” and “data” is displayed.

Then, in the group bar 90A, a noticed thumbnail image positionindicating mark 90MKa indicating the content block to which the noticedthumbnail image belongs and the position of a corresponding broadcastingprogram content is additionally displayed, in the example of FIG. 21, asa transverse bar.

Meanwhile, the group bar 90B is divided in the vertical direction inaccordance with the grouping in the content block set by the userdescribed hereinabove corresponding to the content block including thenoticed thumbnail image, that is, with lengths corresponding to thenumbers of broadcasting program contents included in each group.

In the example shown in FIG. 21, the broadcasting program contents aredivided into four groups of “movie”, “sports”, “document” and “others”,and the group bar 90B is divided into four divisional regions 91B, 92B,93B and 94B with lengths in the vertical direction corresponding to thenumbers of broadcasting program contents included in the individualgroups. A group name is displayed in each of the bars of the divisionalregions 91B, 92B, 93B and 94B. Further, in the group bar 90B, a noticedthumbnail image position indicating mark 90MKb indicating the group andthe position of the broadcasting program content corresponding to thenoticed thumbnail image in the group bar 90B is displayed, in thepresent example, as a transverse bar.

The noticed thumbnail image position indicating marks 90MKa and 90MKbare displayed using a color which looks conspicuously to the user on thegraphical user interface screen, for example, using bright yellow or thelike similarly to the quadrangular framework 200MK for emphaticallydisplaying the noticed thumbnail image.

It is to be noted that, while, in the example of the screen of FIG. 21,the category icon array 100 is erased, the category icon array 100 alsoin FIG. 21 may otherwise be kept displayed but thinly without beingerased.

From the foregoing, also when the “HDD” category icon is selected, evenif the scrolling speed becomes so high that the user cannot readilywatch the noticed item icon displayed on the screen or the item iconspreceding to and succeeding the noticed item icon as well as explanationinformation for them, the user can readily recognize from the positionof the noticed item icon position indicating mark 80MK of the group bar80 what channel position is being scrolled.

It is to be noted that, while, in the description above, the group bar80 and the group bars 90A and 90B are displayed when the scrolling speedis high, they may otherwise be displayed simultaneously when thescrolling is started.

Or else, when a broadcasting medium category icon of “terrestrial”,“BS”, “CS” or the like or the “HDD” category icon is selected by theuser, the group bar 80 and the group bars 90A and 90B may be displayedtogether without fail independently of the scrolling.

It is to be noted that thumbnail images as representation images ofbroadcasting program contents are displayed, in each group, in the orderin accordance with the year, month, day and time of the storage. In thepresent embodiment, since the descending order or the ascending order isselected as the order in this instance in the setting mode by the useras described hereinabove, the thumbnail images are displayed in theorder according to the setting.

Processing Action on the Graphical User Interface

Now, processing action on the graphical user interface is described withreference to flow charts of FIGS. 22 to 26 particularly in connectionwith processing action of the control section 1 which controls thebehavior on the graphical user interface described above. It is to benoted that, in the following description, the initial menu screenincluding the category icon array 100 and the item icon array 200 isreferred to as “cross-shaped menu”.

Further, while, in the foregoing description, when item icons of a lowerhierarchy of an item icon are displayed, explanation informationregarding all of the item icons of the lower hierarchy is displayedtogether, in the following description, also with regard to the itemicons of the lower hierarchy, explanation information of the noticeditem icon among them is displayed initially, and when a scroll startinginstruction is issued, explanation information of all of the item iconsis displayed similarly to the item icons of the first hierarchy.

The broadcasting reception apparatus of the present embodiment isconfigured such that, after a main power supply switch is switched on,every time the power supply key of the remote controller transmitter 23is depressed, the broadcasting reception apparatus repeats changeoverbetween a state wherein the power supply is on and a standby statewherein the power is available only to those elements necessary torestore the state wherein the power supply is on. Then, when the powersupply key is operated in the standby state to switch on the powersupply, the broadcasting reception apparatus builds up to restore astate (last state) at a point of time immediately before the standbystate is entered.

Further, in the following description, operation of the power supply keyand the various buttons is performed on the remote controllertransmitter 23 by the user, and the control section 1 supervises asignal from the remote controller reception section 24 to detect a keyor button operated on the remote controller transmitter 23. However, forsimplified description, such an expression that the control section 1detects an operation of a key or button is used in the followingdescription.

When the broadcasting reception apparatus of the present embodiment isin the standby state, the control section 1 normally supervises anoperation input of the power supply key as seen in FIG. 22 (step S141).Then, if it is detected at step S141 that the power supply key isoperated, then the control section 1 displays the screen of the laststate on the screen 19D of the monitor display unit 19 and displays thecross-shaped menu in an overlapping relationship (step S142).

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not the “home” button isoperated by the user (step S143). If it is decided that the “home”button is depressed, then the control section 1 erases the overlappingdisplay of the cross-shaped menu on the screen 19D (step S144).

Then, the control section 1 supervises an operation input of the powersupply key again (step S145). Then, if an operation of the power supplykey is detected, then the control section 1 stores the last state andrestores the standby state (step S146), thereby ending the processingroutine.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S145 that the power supplykey is not operated, then the control section 1 decides whether or notthe “home” button is operated (step S147). If it is decided that the“home” button is not operated, then the processing returns to step S145.On the other hand, if it is decided at step S147 that the “home” buttonis operated, then the control section 1 displays the cross-shaped menuscreen in an overlapping relationship on the screen 19D of the monitordisplay unit 19 being viewed (step S148). The processing thereafterreturns to step S143.

Then, if it is decided at step S143 that the “home” button is notoperated, then the control section 1 decides whether or not a categorychanging inputting operation by the leftward or rightward directionindicating operation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 isperformed on the graphical user interface screen formed from thecross-shaped menu being displayed in an overlapping relationship (stepS151 of FIG. 23).

If it is decided at step S151 that a category changing inputtingoperation is performed on the cross-shaped menu screen displayed in anoverlapping relationship, then the control section 1 controls thedisplay image producing and outputting section 30 to change the selectedcategory icon to that according to the changing instruction of the useron the cross-shaped menu screen. At this time, the control section 1recognizes the category corresponding to the selected category icon as aselected category (step S152).

Then, the control section 1 displays an item icon array 200 belonging tothe changed category icon and displays corresponding explanation on theright side of the noticed item icon (including the noticed thumbnailimage: this similarly applies in the following description) of the itemicon array 200 (step S153). Then, the control section 1 decides whetheror not the item icons of the selected category icon are in a groupedstate (step S154).

Then, if it is decided at step S154 that the item icons of the selectedcategory icon are in a grouped state, then the control section 1displays the group name to which the noticed item icon belongs in thegroup name displaying place 71 on the left side of the noticed item icon(step S155).

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not the upward directionindicating operation button or the downward direction indicatingoperation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 is operated todecide whether or not a changing operation of the noticed item icon inthe noticed region 200C is performed in the item icon array 200 of thecross-shaped menu (step S171 of FIG. 24).

Then, if it is decided at step S171 that one of the upward directionindicating operation button and the downward direction indicatingoperation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 is operated,then the control section 1 decides whether or not the button operationis long-time depression wherein the button operation continues for morethan a predetermined period of time (step S172). Then, if it is decidedthat the button operation is long-time depression, then the controlsection 1 performs a scrolling process hereinafter described (stepS173). Thereafter, the processing returns to step S171.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S172 that the buttonoperation is not long-time depression, then the control section 1controls the display image producing and outputting section 30 to changethe noticed item icon to be displayed in the noticed region 200C in thecross-shaped menu to an adjacent item icon next in the changingoperation direction of the noticed item icon at present to determine anitem corresponding to the item icon displayed newly in the noticedregion 200C as a noticed item (step S174). Then, the control section 1displays the group name to which the item of the noticed item icon afterchanged belongs in the group name displaying place 71 (step S175).

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not the “determination”button is operated on the remote controller transmitter 23 (step S176).If it is decided that the “determination” button is not operated, thenthe processing returns to step S171 so that the processes at the stepsbeginning with step S171 described above are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S171 that none of the upwarddirection indicating operation button and the downward directionindicating operation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 isoperated, then the control section 1 decides whether or not the“determination” button is operated on the remote controller transmitter23 (step S177). If it is decided that the “determination” button is notoperated, then the processing returns to step S143 of FIG. 22 to repeatthe processes at the steps beginning with step S143 describedhereinabove.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S176 or S177 that the“determination” button is operated, then the control section 1 executesa function corresponding to the determined item and erases thecross-shaped menu from the screen 19D (step S178). Thereafter, theprocessing returns to step S145 of FIG. 22 to execute the processes atthe steps beginning with step S145.

If it is decided at step S154 that the item icons of the selectedcategory icon are not in a grouped state, or if it is decided at stepS151 that a category changing inputting operation is not performed, thenthe processing advances to step S156. At step S156, the control section1 decides whether or not the upward direction indicating operationbutton or the downward direction indicating operation button of theremote controller transmitter 23 is operated, then the control section 1decides whether or not the changing operation of the noticed item iconof the noticed region 200C is executed in the noticed item icon array200 in the cross-shaped menu.

Then, if it is decided at step S156 that one of the upward directionindicating operation button and the downward direction indicatingoperation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 is operated,then the control section 1 decides whether or not the button operationis long-time depression which is a state wherein the button operationcontinues for more than a predetermined period of time (step S157). Ifit is decided that the button operation is long-time depression, thenthe control section 1 performs a scrolling process hereinafter described(step S158). Thereafter, the processing returns to step S156.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S157 that the buttonoperation is not long-time depression, then the control section 1controls the display image producing and outputting section 30 to changethe noticed item icon, which is to be displayed in the noticed region200C on the cross-shaped menu, to an adjacent item icon next in thedirection of the changing operation to the noticed item icon at presentand determine an item corresponding to the item icon displayed newly inthe noticed region 200C as a noticed item (step S159).

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not the “determination”button is operated on the remote controller transmitter 23 (step S160).If it is decided that the “determination” button is not operated, thenthe processing returns to step S156 so that the processes at the stepsbeginning with step S156 described above are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S156 that none of the upwarddirection indicating operation button and the downward directionindicating operation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 isoperated, then the control section 1 decides whether or not the“determination” button is operated on the remote controller transmitter23 (step S161). If it is decided that the “determination” button is notoperated, then the processing returns to step S143 so that the processesat the steps beginning with step S143 described above are repeated.

If it is decided at step S160 or step S161 that the “determination”button is operated, then the control section 1 decides whether or notthe determined item has lower hierarchy items (step S181 of FIG. 25). Ifit is decided that the determined item has no lower hierarchy items,then the control section 1 erases the cross-shaped menu from the screen19D and executes a function or process of the item which is currentlyregarded as the noticed item (step S182). Thereafter, the processingadvances to step S145 of FIG. 22 so that the processes at the stepsbeginning with step S145 described hereinabove are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S181 that the determineditem has lower hierarchy items, then the control section 1 controls thedisplay image producing and outputting section 30 to display a pluralityof ones of the lower hierarchy items of the noticed item on the screen19D (step S183). This state corresponds to the state wherein the“determination” button is depressed while the item icon of recordingreservation is selected as the noticed item icon, and the display of thescreen 19D at step S183 is, for example, such a display as shown in FIG.7.

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not the upward directionindicating operation button or the downward direction indicatingoperation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 is operated onthe display screen of the lower hierarchy items to decide whether or nota changing operation of the noticed item icon of the lower hierarchysurrounded by the quadrangular framework 200MK is performed (step S184).

Then, if it is decided at step S184 that one of the upward directionindicating operation button and the downward direction indicatingoperation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 is operated,then the control section 1 decides whether not the button operation islong-time depression wherein the button operation continues for morethan a predetermined period of time (step S185). Then, if it is decidedthat the button operation is long-time depression, then the controlsection 1 performs a scrolling process hereinafter described (step S188)Thereafter, the processing returns to step S184.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S185 that the buttonoperation is not long-time depression, then the control section 1controls the display image producing and outputting section 30 to changethe noticed item icon of the lower hierarchy surrounded by thequadrangular framework 200MK to an adjacent item icon next in thechanging operation direction to the noticed item icon at present todetermine an item corresponding to the item icon displayed newly in theregion surrounded by the quadrangular framework 200MK as a noticed item(step S186).

Then, the control section 1 decides whether or not the “determination”button is operated on the remote controller transmitter 23 (step S187).If it is decided that the “determination” button is not operated, thenthe processing returns to step S184 so that the processes at the stepsbeginning with step S184 described above are repeated. On the otherhand, if it is decided at step S187 that the “determination” button isoperated, then the processing returns to step S178 of FIG. 24 so thatthe processes at the steps beginning with step S178 describedhereinabove are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S184 that none of the upwarddirection indicating operation button and the downward directionindicating operation button of the remote controller transmitter 23 isoperated, then the control section 1 decides whether or not the “return”button is operated on the remote controller transmitter 23 (step S189).If it is decided that the “return” button is operated, then the controlsection 1 controls the display image producing and outputting section 30so that the overlapping display of the cross-shaped menu is returned tothe state of the immediately preceding screen (step S190). Then, theprocessing returns to step S151 of FIG. 23 so that the processes at thesteps beginning with step S151 are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S189 that the “return”button is not operated, then the control section 1 decides whether ornot the “home” button is operated (step S191). If it is decided that the“home” button is depressed, then the control section 1 erases theoverlapping display of the cross-shaped menu on the screen 19D (stepS192). Then, the processing advances to step S145 of FIG. 22 so that theprocesses at the steps beginning with step S145 are performed.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S191 that the “home” buttonis operated, then the control section 1 returns the processing to stepS184 to repeat the processes at the steps beginning with step S184.

Now, the scrolling process at step S158 of FIG. 23 or at step S188 ofFIG. 25 is described with reference to a flow chart of FIG. 26.

As described hereinabove, the processing routine of FIG. 26 is startedwhen long-time depression of the upward direction indicating operationbutton or the downward direction indicating operation button, which isregarded as a scrolling starting operation, is performed on the remotecontroller transmitter 23.

After the scrolling starting operation described above is detected, thecontrol section 1 controls the display image producing and outputtingsection 30 to start scrolling in such a state that explanationinformation not only of the noticed item icon (including the noticedthumbnail image) but also of item icons preceding to and following thenoticed item icon are displayed as seen in FIG. 17 or 19 (step S201).Then, the control section 1 successively changes the noticed item iconin the indicating direction of the operated button (step S202).

Then, the control section 1 controls the display image producing andoutputting section 30 to gradually raise the scrolling speed and controlthe density or the like of the display of the cross-shaped menu screenin accordance with the scrolling speed as seen on the graphical userinterface screen of FIG. 17 described hereinabove (step S203).

Thereafter, the control section 1 decides whether or not the scrollingspeed exceeds a predetermined speed (step S204). If it is decided thatthe scrolling speed does not exceed the predetermined speed, then thecontrol section 1 decides whether or not the long-time depression of theupward direction indicating operation button or the downward directionindicating operation button is stopped (step S205). If it is decidedthat the long-term depression is not stopped, then the control section 1decides whether or not the last item in the scrolling direction isreached (step S206).

If it is decided at step S205 that the long-time depression is stopped,or if it is decided at step S206 that the last item in the scrollingdirection is reached, then the control section 1 stops the scrolling anddisplays a cross-shaped menu screen on which the item at which thescrolling stops is displayed emphatically (step S207), thereby endingthe processing.

If it is decided at step S204 that the scrolling speed exceeds thepredetermined speed, then the control section 1 controls the displayimage producing and outputting section 30 to additionally display thegroup bar 80 or group bars 90A and 90B on the screen 19D as seen on thegraphical user interface screen of FIG. 19 or 21 and display the noticeditem icon position display mark 84 indicative of the group and theposition of the noticed item icon in the group bar 80 (step S208). Then,the processing advances from step S208 to step S205.

In this manner, since, in the present embodiment, upon scrolling, notonly explanation information of the noticed item icon or the noticedthumbnail image is displayed but also explanation information of itemicons or thumbnail images preceding to and following the noticed itemicon or the noticed thumbnail image are displayed, the user can performa scrolling search readily.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the scrolling speed increases,the group bar 80 including the noticed item icon position display mark80MK or the noticed thumbnail position display marks 90MKa and 90MKbappears on the scrolling screen so as to notify the user of the groupand the position of the noticed item icon or the noticed thumbnail imagein the item icon array 200. Therefore, the user can perform scrollingsearch readily by referring to the group bar 80 or the group bars 90Aand 90B.

It is to be noted that, while, in the example described above, thescrolling in channel selection of the broadcasting media is performedonly within the range of the channel selection, the scrolling mayotherwise be performed including also the utility items.

Further, while the group bar 80 or the group bars 90A and 90B aredisplayed when the predetermined scrolling speed is reached, it mayotherwise be displayed at a starting point of time of scrolling. Or,when the category icon of broadcasting media or the “HDD” category iconis selected and then the item icon array 200 belonging to the categoryicon is displayed, the group bar 80 or the group bars 90A and 90B may bedisplayed together.

Other Modifications

While, in the embodiment described above, the user can set grouping onlyfor groups of stored broadcasting program contents, also it is possibleto classify broadcasting channel items in the broadcasting form groupsof the terrestrial, BS and CS broadcasts of the broadcasting mediumcategory into groups in accordance with grouping setting of the user.

For example, if content attributes such as the genre and performersincluded in EPG data are presented as grouping criteria to the user andthe user selectively sets any of the grouping criteria presented to theuser, then the broadcasting channel items can be grouped based on theselectively set grouping criterion and arrayed in accordance with thegrouping. In this instance, the group bars 90A and 90B similar to thoseof FIG. 21 are displayed.

It is to be noted that the selection object items represented by itemicons or thumbnail images may be other contents. For example, theselection object items may be contents of electronic books, gameprograms or the like. Here, the contents are defined as those of movies,music, theatrical performances, literary arts, photographs, cartoons,animations, computer games, or other characters, figures, colors, sound,action or images, or combinations of them, or programs for providingsuch information through an electronic computer, which are createdthrough creative activities of human beings and belong to the range ofthe culture or the amusement.

It is to be noted that, while, in the embodiments described above, thedisplay position of the group bar is set to the left side with respectto the noticed item icon, it is not restricted to this position but maybe set to some other position. Further, the group bar need not bedisplayed along an array of representation images such as an item iconarray or a thumbnail image array, but may be displayed in a directiondifferent from the direction of the array of representation images.

Further, the mark representing the noticed item icon position on thegroup bar is not limited to the example described above, but such adisplaying method that, for example, a triangular mark or an arrow markis displayed on the outer side of the bar may be used.

Further, while the representation images in the example describedhereinabove with reference to the drawings are icons including a graphicform or a character or icons formed from a channel number or thumbnailimages formed from images each obtained by reducing the size of someimage of a broadcasting program, some other symbols or the like may beused as the representation images.

While, in the foregoing embodiments, the electronic apparatus of thepresent invention is a broadcasting reception apparatus, the electronicapparatus according to the present invention is not limited to such abroadcasting reception apparatus as described above but can be appliedto any electronic apparatus, for example, such as the recording andreproduction apparatus for image data and sound data only if theelectronic apparatus includes a plurality of categories each of whichhas a plurality of processing function items in a lower hierarchythereof.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising: a processing function executionsection for executing a plurality of processing functions; a displaydata storage section for storing a plurality of display data ofrepresentation images individually representing a plurality ofprocessing object items of the processing functions individually withregard to the plural processing functions; an operation inputtingsection for accepting an operation input of a user and outputting acorresponding operation output signal; a representation image displayorder data storage section for storing, for the individual ones of theplural processing functions, representation image display order dataincluding data relating to an array order when the plural representationimages are to be displayed on a display screen and including, where theplural processing object items of the processing functions are dividedinto a plurality of groups, coordination data between names of thegroups and data relating to the array order in the individual groups;and a display control section for displaying, when said operationinputting section accepts a selection operation input for selecting oneof the plural processing functions, the plural representation imagesusing the display data stored in said display data storage section andthe representation image display order data stored in saidrepresentation image display order data storage section such that theplural representation images are arrayed along one direction of saiddisplay screen and one of the plural representation images can beselected as a noticed representation image in response to an operationinput through said operation inputting section; said display controlsection including a decision section for deciding, when said operationinputting section accepts a selection operation input for selecting oneof the plural processing functions, whether or not the plural processingobject items of the selected processing function is divided in aplurality of groups, and a group name displaying section for displaying,when said decision section decides that the plural processing objectitems are divided in a plurality of groups, the group names of thegroups to which the processing object item of the noticed representationimage belongs in the proximity of the noticed representation image basedon the storage contents of said representation image display order datastorage section.
 2. The electronic apparatus according claim 1, whereinsaid display control section displays the plural representation imagestranslucently in an overlapping relationship on the screen of the imageof the image content displayed on said display screen.
 3. An electronicapparatus, comprising: a display data storage section for storing aplurality of display data of representation images which individuallyrepresent a plurality of processing object items; an operation inputtingsection for accepting an operation input of a user and outputting acorresponding operation output signal; a presenting and acceptingsection for presenting an operation screen for dividing the pluralprocessing object items into groups to the user and accepting groupinginformation of the plural processing object items in response to anoperation input of the user through the operation screen and saidoperation inputting section; a representation image display order datastorage section for performing grouping of the plural processing objectitems based on the grouping information and storing representation imagedisplay order data relating to an array order when the pluralrepresentation images are to be displayed on a display screen andincluding coordination data between the group names of the groups andthe data relating to the array order in the groups; and a displaycontrol section for displaying the plural representation images usingthe display data stored in said display data storage section and therepresentation image display order data stored in said representationimage display order data storage section such that the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed along one direction of said displayscreen and one of the plural representation images can be selected as anoticed representation image in response to an operation input throughsaid operation inputting section and displaying the group names of thegroups to which the processing object item of the noticed representationimage belongs in the proximity of the noticed representation image. 4.The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: abroadcast program reception section; a content storage section forstoring data of a broadcast program content received by said broadcastprogram reception section and reading out any of data of broadcastprogram contents in response to a readout instruction; and arepresentation image production section for producing display data ofthe display images regarding the broadcast program contents stored insaid contents storage section; said display data storage section storingthe display data, produced by said representation image productionsection, of the representation images regarding the broadcast programcontents stored in said contents storage section; the readoutinstruction to read out, when the noticed representation image isselected and finally decided, the selected and finally decided broadcastprogram content being generated to perform reproduction of the selectedand finally decided broadcast program content.
 5. The electronicapparatus according to claim 4, wherein information included inelectronic program guide data regarding the broadcast program contentsis used as the grouping information.
 6. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said display control section displays theplural representation images translucently in an overlappingrelationship on the screen of the image of the image content displayedon said display screen.
 7. An electronic apparatus, comprising: aprocessing function execution section for executing a plurality ofprocessing functions; a display data storage section for storing aplurality of display data of representation images individuallyrepresenting a plurality of processing object items of the processingfunctions individually with regard to the plural processing functions;an operation inputting section for accepting an operation input of auser and outputting a corresponding operation output signal; arepresentation image display order data storage section for storing, forthe individual ones of the plural processing functions, representationimage display order data including data relating to an array order whenthe plural representation images are to be displayed on a display screenand including, where the plural processing object items of theprocessing functions are divided into a plurality of groups,coordination data between names of the groups and data relating to thearray order in the individual groups; and a display control section fordisplaying, when said operation inputting section accepts a selectionoperation input for selecting one of the plural processing functions,the plural representation images using the display data stored in saiddisplay data storage section and the representation image display orderdata stored in said representation image display order data storagesection such that the plural representation images are arrayed along onedirection of said display screen and one of the plural representationimages can be selected as a noticed representation image in response toan operation input through said operation inputting section; saiddisplay control section including a decision section for deciding, whensaid operation inputting section accepts a selection operation input forselecting one of the plural processing functions, whether or not theplural processing object items of the selected processing function isdivided in a plurality of groups, and a bar displaying section foradditionally displaying, when said decision section decides that theplural processing object items are divided in a plurality of groups, abar display which is divided in accordance with the plural groups andincludes, at each of the divisional portions thereof, a mark including agroup name display and indicating at which position the noticedrepresentation image is positioned in an array of the pluralrepresentation images including the noticed representation image on saiddisplay screen.
 8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the bar display is displayed on said display screen whenscrolling is performed in accordance with a scrolling instruction of theplural display images inputted through said operation inputting section.9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said displaycontrol section displays the plural representation images translucentlyin an overlapping relationship on the screen of the image of the imagecontent displayed on said display screen.
 10. An electronic apparatus,comprising: a display data storage section for storing a plurality ofdisplay data of representation images which individually represent aplurality of processing object items; an operation inputting section foraccepting an operation input of a user and outputting a correspondingoperation output signal; a presenting and accepting section forpresenting an operation screen for dividing the plural processing objectitems into groups to the user and accepting grouping information of theplural processing object items in response to an operation input of theuser through the operation screen and said operation inputting section;a representation image display order data storage section for performinggrouping of the plural processing object items based on the groupinginformation and storing representation image display order data relatingto an array order when the plural representation images are to bedisplayed on a display screen and including coordination data betweenthe group names of the groups and the data relating to the array orderin the groups; and a display control section for displaying the pluralrepresentation images using the display data stored in said display datastorage section and the representation image display order data storedin said representation image display order data storage section suchthat the plural representation images are arrayed along one direction ofsaid display screen and one of the plural representation images can beselected as a noticed representation image in response to an operationinput through said operation inputting section and additionallydisplaying a bar display which is divided in accordance with the pluralgroups and includes, at each of the divisional portions thereof, a markincluding a group name display and indicating at which position thenoticed representation image is positioned in an array of the pluralrepresentation images including the noticed representation image on saiddisplay screen.
 11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the bar display is displayed on said display screen whenscrolling is performed in accordance with a scrolling instruction of theplural display images inputted through said operation inputting section.12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:a broadcast program reception section; a content storage section forstoring data of a broadcast program content received by said broadcastprogram reception section and reading out any of data of broadcastprogram contents in response to a readout instruction; and arepresentation image production section for producing display data ofthe display images regarding the broadcast program contents stored insaid contents storage section; said display data storage section storingthe display data, produced by said representation image productionsection, of the representation images regarding the broadcast programcontents stored in said contents storage section; the readoutinstruction to read out, when the noticed representation image isselected and finally decided, the selected and finally decided broadcastprogram content being generated to perform reproduction of the selectedand finally decided broadcast program content.
 13. The electronicapparatus according to claim 12, wherein information included inelectronic program guide data regarding the broadcast program contentsis used as the grouping information.
 14. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein said display control section displays theplural representation images translucently in an overlappingrelationship on the screen of the image of the image content displayedon said display screen.
 15. A display controlling method for anelectronic apparatus, comprising: a step of storing a plurality ofdisplay data of representation images individually representing aplurality of processing object items regarding a plurality of processingfunctions into a display data storage section individually with regardto the plural processing functions; a step of accepting an operationinput of a user through an operation inputting section and outputting acorresponding operation output signal; a step of storing, for theindividual ones of the plural processing functions, representation imagedisplay order data including data relating to an array order when theplural representation images are to be displayed on a display screen andincluding, where the plural processing object items of the processingfunctions are divided in a plurality of groups, coordination databetween names of the groups and data relating to the array order in theindividual groups into a representation image display order data storagesection; a decision step of deciding, when said operation inputtingsection accepts a selection operation input for selecting one of theplural processing functions, whether or not the plural processing objectitems of the selected processing function is divided in a plurality ofgroups; a first displaying step of displaying, when it is decided at thedecision step that the plural processing object items are not divided ina plurality of groups, the plural representation images using thedisplay data stored in said display data storage section and therepresentation image display order data stored in said representationimage display order data storage section such that the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed along one direction of said displayscreen and one of the plural representation images can be selected as anoticed representation image in response to an operation input throughsaid operation inputting section; and a second displaying step ofdisplaying, when it is decided at the decision step that the pluralprocessing object items are divided in a plurality of groups, the groupnames of the groups to which the processing object item of the noticedrepresentation image belongs in the proximity of the noticedrepresentation image based on the storage contents of saidrepresentation image display order data storage section in addition tothe display displayed at the first displaying step.
 16. The displaycontrolling method for an electronic apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the display controlling step displays the plural representationimages translucently in an overlapping relationship on the screen of theimage of the image content displayed on said display screen.
 17. Adisplay controlling method for an electronic apparatus, comprising: astep of storing a plurality of display data of representation imageswhich individually represent a plurality of processing object items intoa display data storage section; a step of accepting an operation inputof a user through an operation inputting section and outputting acorresponding operation output signal; a step of presenting an operationscreen for dividing the plural processing object items into groups tothe user; a step of accepting grouping information of the pluralprocessing object items in response to an operation input of the userthrough the presented operation screen for the division into groups andsaid operation inputting section; a step of performing grouping of theplural processing object items based on the grouping information andstoring representation image display order data relating to an arrayorder when the plural representation images are to be displayed on adisplay screen and including coordination data between the group namesof the groups and the data relating to the array order in the groups;and a display controlling step of displaying the plural representationimages using the display data stored in said display data storagesection and the representation image display order data stored in saidrepresentation image display order data storage section such that theplural representation images are arrayed along one direction of saiddisplay screen and one of the plural representation images can beselected as a noticed representation image in response to an operationinput through said operation inputting section and displaying the groupnames of the groups to which the processing object item of the noticedrepresentation image belongs in the proximity of the noticedrepresentation image.
 18. The display controlling method for anelectronic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the displaycontrolling step displays the plural representation images translucentlyin an overlapping relationship on the screen of the image of the imagecontent displayed on said display screen.
 19. A display controllingmethod for an electronic apparatus, comprising: a step of storing aplurality of display data of representation images individuallyrepresenting a plurality of processing object items regarding aplurality of processing functions into a display data storage sectionindividually with regard to the plural processing functions; a step ofaccepting an operation input of a user through an operation inputtingsection and outputting a corresponding operation output signal; a stepof storing, for the individual ones of the plural processing functions,representation image display order data including data relating to anarray order when the plural representation images are to be displayed ona display screen and including, where the plural processing object itemsof the processing functions are divided in a plurality of groups,coordination data between names of the groups and data relating to thearray order in the individual groups into a representation image displayorder data storage section; a decision step of deciding, when saidoperation inputting section accepts a selection operation input forselecting one of the plural processing functions, whether or not theplural processing object items of the selected processing function isdivided in a plurality of groups; a first displaying step of displaying,when it is decided at the decision step that the plural processingobject items are not divided in a plurality of groups, the pluralrepresentation images using the display data stored in said display datastorage section and the representation image display order data storedin said representation image display order data storage section suchthat the plural representation images are arrayed along one direction ofsaid display screen and one of the plural representation images can beselected as a noticed representation image in response to an operationinput through said operation inputting section; and a second displayingstep of additionally displaying, when it is decided at the decision stepthat the plural processing object items are divided in a plurality ofgroups, a bar display which is divided in accordance with the pluralgroups and includes, at each of the divisional portions thereof, a markincluding a group name display and indicating at which position thenoticed representation image is positioned in an array of the pluralrepresentation images including the noticed representation image on saiddisplay screen.
 20. The display controlling method for an electronicapparatus according to claim 19, wherein the display controlling stepdisplays the plural representation images translucently in anoverlapping relationship on the screen of the image of the image contentdisplayed on said display screen.
 21. A display controlling method foran electronic apparatus, comprising: a step of storing a plurality ofdisplay data of representation images which individually represent aplurality of processing object items into a display data storagesection; a step of accepting an operation input of a user through anoperation inputting section and outputting a corresponding operationoutput signal; a step of presenting an operation screen for dividing theplural processing object items into groups to the user; a step ofaccepting grouping information of the plural processing object items inresponse to an operation input of the user through the presentedoperation screen for the division into groups and said operationinputting section; a step of performing grouping of the pluralprocessing object items based on the grouping information and storingrepresentation image display order data relating to an array order whenthe plural representation images are to be displayed on a display screenand including coordination data between the group names of the groupsand the data relating to the array order in the groups; and a displaycontrolling step of displaying the plural representation images usingthe display data stored in said display data storage section and therepresentation image display order data stored in said representationimage display order data storage section such that the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed along one direction of said displayscreen and one of the plural representation images can be selected as anoticed representation image in response to an operation input throughsaid operation inputting section and additionally displaying a bardisplay which is divided in accordance with the plural groups andincludes, at each of the divisional portions thereof, a mark including agroup name display and indicating at which position the noticedrepresentation image is positioned in an array of the pluralrepresentation images including the noticed representation image on saiddisplay screen.
 22. The display controlling method for an electronicapparatus according to claim 21, wherein the display controlling stepdisplays the plural representation images translucently in anoverlapping relationship on the screen of the image of the image contentdisplayed on said display screen.
 23. A graphical user interface,comprising: a plurality of representation images representing selectionobject items and arrayed along one direction on a display screen; anoticed representation image selected from among the pluralrepresentation images being displayed emphatically at a fixed positionon said display screen; the representation images being changed inresponse to a selection operation of the representation images throughan operating inputting section while explanation information of theselection object items is displayed in the proximity of the displayingpositions of the representation images; and a bar display displayedadditionally on said display screen and including a mark representingthe position of the noticed representation image in an array of theplural representation images.
 24. The graphical user interface accordingto claim 23, wherein, when the scrolling speed becomes a speeddetermined in advance, a bar display including a mark representing theposition of the noticed representation image in the array of the pluralrepresentation images additionally on said display screen.
 25. Thegraphical user interface according to claim 24, wherein the pluralrepresentation images are divided into a plurality of groups based onattributes relating to the selection object items and the pluralrepresentation images are arrayed collectively for each of the groupswhile the bar display is divided into a plurality of divisional portionsin response to the plural groups and each of the divisional portions ofthe bar display is provided with a group display representing to whichone of the groups the divisional portion belongs.
 26. The graphical userinterface according to claim 23, wherein the plural representationimages are displayed translucently in an overlapping relationship on thescreen of the image of the image content displayed on said displayscreen.